January 2017
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Trichosanthes cucumerina (L.) var. cucumerina, a medicinal herb of Cucurbitaceae is used for preparing Ayurvedic medicines by Oushadhi and Kottakkal Pharmacy in Kerala, India. The study was conducted to determine the phytochemical constituents of fruit and root extracts using different solvents of increasing polarity, histochemical localization and in vitro antioxidant analysis of the extracts. The extracts were compared by using solvents with increadsing order of polarity - petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water Qualitative and quantitative analysis were carried out following standard protocols for detection and quantification of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins and terpenoids. For histochemical studies the free hand sections of root were taken and treated with the respective reagent to localize components. The antioxidant content of fruit and root and their free radical scavenging activity were also analysed for methanolic and aqueous extracts by DPPH free radical scavenging profile and FRAP assay. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannin, terpenoids and saponins in methanolic and aqueous extracts of both fruits and root. Among the solvents, all non-polar solvents did not reveal the presence of secondary metabolites. The results of quantitative analysis suggested that alkaloid and tannin contents were high in aqueous extracts of root (19 mg alkaloid/g; 12.79 mg tannin/g) than in fruit extract (3 mg alkaloid/g and1.24 mg tannin/g). However, the methanolic extracts of fruit contained more flavonoid, phenolic, tanninn and terpenoids than root. The results of DPPH free radical scavenging indicated that the root extract could scavenge free radicals more effectively. The FRAP assay indicated an increase in ferric reducing power with increase in concentration for both extracts, suggesting a moderate level of antioxidant activity.