Identification of Bioactive Compounds of Detarium microcarpum (Guill and Perr) Stem-Bark Using Molecular Networking

Abstract

The stem-bark of Detarium microcarpum (Guill. and Perr.) has long featured in traditional medicine across sub-Saharan Africa for managing oxidative stress-related ailments, yet its metabolome has never been characterised in detail. Here we report a comprehensive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) metabolite profile of the ethanolic stem-bark extract, generated on a Q-Exactive Focus Orbitrap LC-MS/MS system operating in positive and negative electrospray ionisation (ESI) modes. Sixteen compounds were identified using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform together with literature comparison, spanning chemical classes that include sesquiterpenoids, amino acids, hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, terpene lactones, fatty acids, and peptides. Notable among them are gallic acid methyl ester, gossonorol, sinularianin C, anaferine, lathyrine and leupeptin several with documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activity. Together, these findings offer a chemical rationale for the ethnopharmacological use of D. microcarpum stem-bark and point to its promise as a source of bioactive leads for drug discovery.