Characterization of phytochemicals by GC-MS, in-vitro bio- logical assays and micronutrient analysis by ICP-MS of Prunus domestica L. seeds

In the present study, Prunus domestica L. (plum) seeds were used as the source of the oil components. To extract the oil, Soxhlet extraction was car-ried out using two different solvents petroleum ether and diethyl ether in increasing order of polarity for efficient extraction of secondary metabo-lites. GC-MS analysis of the obtained oil components was carried out and revealed the identification of 33 and 34 compounds in PE and DEE fractions respectively. 13-Docosenamide, (Z)-was the most abundant compound in PE fraction while the 2nd most abundant compound in DEE fraction. Hexa-decanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl ester was the most abun-dant compound in DEE fraction. The oil components were further assessed for in-vitro biological assays namely antidiabetic assay, antioxidant assay and antibacterial assay. ICP-MS analysis for the quantification of 12 different metals (K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, As, Pb, Se) was also carried out. K was the major element in all the tested elements. Lead, arsenic and seleni-um were present below the limit of quantification (BLQ). Therefore, the cur-rent study through the light on therapeutic aspects of the oil components of P. domestica seeds.