Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Costus igneus leaves via Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical Screening, and GC-MS Analysis

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the leaves of Costus igneus through a comprehensive pharmacognostic study, preliminary phytochemical screening, and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify its bioactive constituents. Pharmacognostic analysis was conducted to establish key diagnostic features, including macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, physicochemical parameters, and powder microscopy. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, and phenolic compounds. GC-MS analysis identified several bioactive compounds with known pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties. The findings support the ethnomedicinal use of Costus igneus and lay a scientific foundation for further isolation and characterization of therapeutic agents.