TITLE:
Chemical Profiling of Fatty Acids and Volatile Compounds in the Roots of Chrysopogon nigritanus
AUTHORS:
Absa Diop, Mareme Thiaw, Issa Samb, Mohamed Lamine Gaye
KEYWORDS:
Chrysopogon nigritanus, Volatile Organic Compounds, Fatty Acids, SPME-GC-MS, GC-FID
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Vol.16 No.3,
September
4,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Chrysopogon nigritanus, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds, represents a valuable resource from both pharmacological and industrial perspectives. This species, widely used in traditional medicine, is characterized by its diverse biological properties, which are of particular interesting the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fatty acid composition of C. nigritanus roots in order to assess their biological potential and potential applications. Methods: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified and quantified using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Fatty acids were converted to their corresponding methyl esters and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Results: The analysis revealed a diverse profile of volatile organic compounds, with terpenes clearly predominating. The volatile fraction consisted mainly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. In addition to terpenes, the analysis revealed trace amounts of aromatic compounds, aldehydes, and alkanes were detected. Analysis of the fatty acid profile revealed a marked predominance of heptadecenoic acid (65.352% ± 1.135%), followed by eicosadienoic acid, linoleic acid and eicosadienoic acid (4.382% ± 3.079%, 4.266% ± 3.360%, 4.171% ± 4.433%, respectively). Each the other fatty acids identified accounted for less than 4% of the total area. Conclusion: The roots of C. nigritanus exhibit a chemical profile rich characterized by a high abundance for terpenoid compounds and predominance for heptadecenoic acid. These findings provide chemical evidence supporting the traditional use and highlight its potential for further investigation in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.