Erasmo Herman-Lara¹, Paula Noreyma Balderas-Sánchez¹, Ivet Gallegos-Marín², Roselis Carmona-Gárcia¹, Lilia Leticia Mendez-Lagunas³, Irene Chaparro Hernández⁴ and Cecilia Eugenia Martínez-Sánchez¹*

¹Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Calzada Dr. Víctor Bravo Ahuja, San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, México
²SECIHTI-Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Calz, Dr. Víctor Bravo Ahuja, Tuxtepec, México
³Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
⁴SECIHTI- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

*Corresponding Author: Cecilia E Martínez-Sánchez, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Calzada Dr. Víctor Bravo Ahuja, San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, México.

Received: August 26, 2025; Published: September 30, 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to qualitatively identify the main secondary metabolites present in the roots of Ibervillea sonorae (wereke) using colorimetric assays and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Root samples were purchased from the Sonora Market in Mexico City. The powder obtained was characterized for its chemical composition and physical properties, including color. A 100% aqueous extract and a sequential extraction with solvents of increasing polarity (hexane and ethyl acetate, 1:18 g/mL), both assisted by ultrasound, were prepared. Extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator and subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis. Proximate analysis revealed low moisture content (69.26 ± 3.53) and low carbohydrate content (19.38 ± 0.83). Colorimetric screening of the powder indicated the presence of phenols (moderate), flavonoids (low), and phytosterols (low). The aqueous extract showed abundant phenols and triterpenes, along with moderate flavonoids and phytosterols, whereas the sequential extract contained abundant saponins, flavonoids, and phytosterols [2]. TLC confirmed these observations, detecting moderate triterpenes and saponins in the aqueous extract, and abundant phytosterols in the sequential extract. Overall, solvents of different polarity enabled differential recovery of metabolites: aqueous extraction was more effective for phenols and triterpenes, while organic solvents favored saponins and phytosterols. These findings highlight I. sonorae as a potential source of functional compounds with possible therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Ibervillea Sonorae; Wereke; Root Extract; Secondary Metabolites; Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis

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Citation

Citation: Cecilia Eugenia Martínez-Sánchez., et al. “Phytochemical Screening and Qualitative Analysis of Secondary Metabolites from Ibervillea sonorae Roots".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 9.10 (2025): 70-76.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Cecilia Eugenia Martínez-Sánchez., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.