Quantitative determination of the saponin content and GC-MS study of the medicinal plant Cassytha filiformis(linn.)leaves

Objective:To determine the phytochemicals,total saponin content and types of saponin present in leaf extracts of Cassytha filiformis.Methods:The leaves were extracted with n-hexane and methanol.The methanol extract was fractionated.The total saponin content of the butanol fraction was determined by colorimetry via a UV spectrophotometer and ginsenoside was used as the standard.Measurements were carried out at 550 nm.The butanol fraction was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis.Results:All screened phytochemicals were absent in the n-hexane extract while saponins,steroids,tannins and glycosides were present in the methanol extract.Flavonoids and alkaloids were absent.The total saponin content of the methanol extract is 73.47μg ginsenoside Rb1 equivalent/g extract.The chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis gave eicosanoic acid,methyl ester as the most abundant compound and the steroidal saponin,cholestan-7-one and cyclic 1,2-ethanedienyl acetal as the most abundant saponin in the butanol fraction.Conclusions:The leaves of Cassytha filiformis are rich in steroidal saponins.

Determination of antibacterial activity,total phenolic,flavonoid and saponin contents in leaves of Anogeissus leiocarpus(DC.)Guill and Perr

Objective:To ascertain the antibacterial property and quantify the contents of the total phenolics,flavonoids and saponins in leaves of Anogeissus leiocarpus(DC.)Guill and Perr.Methods:Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed by the method described by Harborne in 1999.Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used for assaying the antibacterial activity.Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods were employed for the estimation of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents,respectively.Vanillinacetic acid and perchloric acid mixture was employed in the determination of the total saponin content.Results:The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides,tannins,flavonoids,saponins,terpenoids and steroids in the methanolic extract while alkaloids were absent.Only steroids were identified in the n-hexane extract.The methanolic leaf extract was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Proteus vulgaris while the n-hexane was inactive.The total phenolic content obtained was(47.75±0.12)mg gallic acid equivalent/mg extract,the total flavonoid content was(121.50±0.11)mg quercetin equivalent/mg extract,while the total saponin content was(63.42±0.15)mg ginsenoside Rb 1 equivalent/mg extract.Conclusions:The leaves of Anogeissus leiocarpus have high contents of saponins and flavonoids.

GC-MS analysis of leaf extracts of Terminalia macroptera and Dioclea reflexa,two medicinal plants used for the treatment of respiratory tract disorders

Objective:To analyze the phytochemicals that are present in two medicinal plants which are used for the treatment of respiratory tract infections by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer.Methods:The plant leaves were extracted with n-hexane and methanol separately.Both extracts were analyzed for present phytochemicals using the method described by Harborne,1985 while only methanol extracts were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis.Results:Phytochemical screening of the methanolic extracts of Terminalia macroptera(T.macroptera)revealed the presence of glycosides,tannins,flavonoids,saponins and steroids while that of Dioclea reflexa(D.reflexa)showed the presence of flavonoids,saponins and steroids.The n-hexane extracts were devoid of the screened phytochemicals.Twelve and twenty-five compounds were identified in the leaves of T.macroptera and D.reflexa respectively.These compounds were fatty acids,fatty acid esters,other esters,heterocyclics and phenolics.The most abundant compound in T.macroptera was benzenetriol(53.30%)while the predominant compounds in D.reflexa were dodecanoic acid,methyl ester(15.31%),5,5,8a-trimethyl-3,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-chromene(9.73%),10-octadecenoic acid,methyl ester and 2-hexadecanoic acid,methyl ester(8.95%).Benzofuran,2,3-dihydro,3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol and hexadecanoic acid,methyl ester were common in both plant extracts.The antimicrobial properties of the leaves of these plants could be responsible for their use in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.Conclusions:Some of the identified phytochemicals in the plant leaves are responsible for its use in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.