Phytochemical profile, proximate analysis and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts of Citrullus colocynthis

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the phytochemical profiles of Citrullus colocynthis fruit extracts, assessing the nutritive value and examining the antioxidant properties. These properties were examined using standard protocols. The crude was extracted with 50% aqueous methanol, partitioned into fractions, purified with column chromatography and the eluted components were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The majority of the phytochemicals discovered in C. colocynthis were tannins (183.4 mg/100g tannic acid), reducing sugar (107.3 mg/100g glucose), and phenolic compounds (47.95 mg/100g gallic acid). The fruit contains 81% moisture, 7% carbohydrate and 9% total ash from the proximate analysis. The hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the crude extract when tested at a concentration of 100 µL/mL in a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay displayed high antioxidant effects comparable to that of ascorbic acid (84.24% inhibition). C. colocynthis offers a significant degree of promise for pharmaceutical companies to synthesise into potential drugs for the treatment of diseases spurred by reactive oxygen species.