[01] Nnenna E. Okoronkwo, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. [02] Michael O. Ajomiwe, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. [03] Chioma A. Ike-Amadi, Department of Chemistry, Abia State Polytechnics, Aba, Nigeria.

The fatty acids contents of different solvent extracts of Dennettia tripetala leaves were characterized using GC/MS. Methanol, ethanol and benzene extracted eleven, ten and five fatty acid compounds respectively in varying amounts. The fatty acids extracted by the different solvents identified include: caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Benzene extracted the highest composition of linolenic acid (omega-3-fatty acid) with percentage composition of 97.76%, while methanol and ethanol extracted highest composition of palmitic acid with percentage compositions of 26.17% and 25.64% respectively. This study revealed that solvent used in extraction has great influence on the type and amount of fatty acids extracted.

D. tripetala, Extraction, Fatty Acids, Leaves, Solvents

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