Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUTION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF FRUITS OF LAGENARIA SICERARIA (MOLINA) STANDLY

Dinesh Kumar*, Kaushal K Chandrul, Deepak Singh, Hariom Sharma, Shikha Pawar, Abhishek Mishra

Abstract

Bottle gourd or Lauki or Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standly is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is an excellent fruit in the nature having a composition of all the essential constituents that are required for normal and good health of humans. The present study provides updated information on its Pharmacognostical, Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical screening. Pharmacognostical analysis gave total ash 8.5%, acid insoluble ash 1.0% and water soluble ash 5.5%. The fluorescent characteristics of fruit powder with various chemical reagents were noted under visible and UV light. Quantitative Pharmacognostical analysis gave water extractive value 10.8%, methanol extractive value 9.0%, ethanol extract 6.8%, chloroform extractive value 1.0%, petroleum ether extractive value 0.2%, Yield of more water soluble extractives than alcohol soluble extractives shows the presence of water soluble rich constituents in the fruit. The Qualitative Phytochemical study of powdered fruits revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids and vitamin C. Total phenolic and total flavonoids content measured quantitatively and values were obtained 50.72±1.19 and 36.88±0.60 mg/g of dry extract respectively.

Keywords: Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbitaceae, Phytochemical and flavonoids.