Metabolite Profiling of Alectryon Tomentosus Leaf Extract via GC/MS Analysis and Its Renal Protective Effect

Alectryon is a genus of trees in the family Sapindaceae that occurs in the rainforests of Australia and vast areas of Asian continent. In the present study, petroleum ether extract of Alectryon tomentosus was subjected to chemical investigation, and its renal protective efficiency is investigated by potassium dichromate renal toxicity test. Additionally, the volatile constituents were estimated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique. Saponification of the petroleum ether extract of A. tomentosus (5 g) leaves was carried out under certain conditions to give 2.2 g of unsaponifiable matter and 1.7 g of fatty acids. Investigation of the saponifiable and unsaponifiable matter of A. tomentosus leaves was carried out by GC/MS analysis. Eleven fatty acid methyl ester derivatives could be identified, representing 96.55% of the total compounds. Eighteen compounds were identified, representing 70.65% of the total unsaponifiable content. Furthermore, the sterol fraction was subjected to gas–liquid chromatography adopting specific conditions. The analysis of volatiles constituents of A. tomentosus allowed the identification of sixty-five compounds, representing almost 50.13% of the total composition. The main volatile compounds are 3-hexen-1-ol (9.97%) and phytol (8.63%). Diuretic activity and blood urea analysis are assigned to determine the renal activity of petroleum ether extract compared to other A. tomentosus extracts. These findings suggest that petroleum ether extract is an effective agent against renal injury, whereas the volatile constituent’s renal protective activity was supported by previously published literature.