Crude extracts and fractions of Cordia sinensis leaves were subjected to gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GC-FID), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and preliminary screening for biological potentials using antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic, cytotoxic, insecticidal, antileishmanicidal and antiglycation bioassays. Overall thirty-one phytochemicals including three hydrocarbons, seven fatty acids, fifteen fatty acid esters, three terpenes, one each of phytosterol, terpenoid, and polyunsaturated aldehyde were identified. n-Hexadecanoic acid (13.2%), methyl hexadecanoate (9.0%), octadec-9Z-enoic acid (8.3%) and methyl octadec-9Z,12Z,15Z-trienoate (7.8%) were the main components. Presumably, this is a first report of twenty, thirteen and twenty phytochemicals from C. sinensis, Cordia and Boraginaceae, respectively. Moreover, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significant insecticidal and antifungal activity against Sitophilus oryzae and Microsporum canis, respectively. Similarly, n-hexane fraction significantly inhibited (77.4%) advanced glycation end products in antiglycation assay. Conclusively, C. sinensis leaves with bioactive metabolites are a potential source for the development of insecticides, fungicides and pharmaceutically active antidiabetic drugs.
Keywords: Cordia sinensis; GC/GC-MS; antifungal agents; antiglycation bioassay; insecticidal agents.