Chemical analysis of Agama agama Linnaeus, 1758. (Agamidae) excreta: Emerging trends in substance abuse in Nigeria
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Résumé
Background: Absence of data on the chemical composition of the excreta of Agama agama, a novel substance widely abused by young people in Nigeria prompted an investigation into the excreta of A. agama in order to identify and assess its psychoactive and toxic contents, so as to make informed decisions on its use.
Methods: Fresh excreta of A. agama were collected from uncompleted buildings in the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa state. Collected samples were sun dried for ten days, pulverized and then processed for analysis. The chemical constituents of the concentrated extracts of A. agama excreta were determined with a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) machine.
Results: The result revealed seventeen compounds along with their nomenclature, chemical formula, structure, molecular weight, retention time and peak area. The most abundant constituent was 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (17.53%). The constituent with the highest retention time (20.417mins) was methyl-16-hydroxyhexadecanoate while the constituent with the highest molecular weight (334 Da) was cyclopropaneoctanoic acid. Psychoactive compounds identified among the constituents were nonanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid and 8-methyl-6-nonenamide while the toxic chemicals identified among the constituents were 1-eicosene, nonanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, 8-methyl-6-nonenamide, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, 11-octadecanoic acid, 15-hydroxypentadecanoic acid and methyl stearate.
Conclusion: The toxic compounds identified in A. agama excreta pose significant health risks to individuals who consume it. This study provides empirical evidence to discourage the unregulated use A. agama excreta for its psychoactive effects. Hence, there is need for policy formulations and public awareness measures to educate, sensitize and cascade these to young people.
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