Comparative GC–MS Quantification of Bioactive Fatty Acids and Phytochemicals in Seed, Stem, and Root Oils of Ricinus communis

Abstract

This study presents a comparative evaluation of the phytochemical constituents and quantitative fatty acid composition of oils extracted from the seed, stem, and root of Ricinus communis using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Oil extraction was carried out using n-hexane in a Soxhlet apparatus, and yields varied significantly among plant parts, with the seed recording the highest yield (11.88 %), followed by the root (2.28 %) and stem (1.80 %). Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the root oil possessed the highest phenolic (0.224 mg GAE/g) and saponin (1.555 mg DE/g) contents, while tannins were most abundant in the stem (1.839 mg TAE/g). GC–MS analysis, combined with internal standard quantification, identified and quantified major bioactive fatty acids across the samples. The seed oil was dominated by hexadecenoic acid (45.61 %), n-hexadecanoic acid (23.06 %), and oleic acid (4.88 %). In contrast, the stem oil exhibited a high abundance of 9-octadecenoic acid (100 % peak dominance) along with significant levels of flavonoid-related compounds. The root oil was characterized by 6-octadecenoic acid (100 %), 9-octadecanoic acid (28.25 %), and methyl esters (48.86 %). Quantitative estimation indicated that these fatty acids were present in appreciable concentrations (mg/g), suggesting their potential contribution to biological activity. The identified compounds are widely associated with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The results demonstrate notable variation in both phytochemical composition and fatty acid profiles among different plant parts, highlighting the complementary therapeutic potential of R. communis oils. This study provides comprehensive quantitative data that support the pharmacological relevance and industrial applicability of Ricinus communis, particularly in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic formulations.