Pharmaceutical and therapeutic potential of some wild Cucurbitaceae species from South East Nigeria

Abstract

The phytochemical screening of some wild Cucurbitaceae species from South – East Nigeria, was investigated to determine their pharmaceutical and Therapeutic potential. The four plant species used for the study were Lagenaria vulgaris, Trichosanthes cucumerina, Momordica charantia and Luffa cylinderical. The leaves, pericarp and seeds of the plants were investigated. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponin and tannins were found in all the plant parts analyzed and in all the plant species. Averagely, the phytochemical constituent of the plants are as follows: alkaloid (0.02- 0.07 mg ml^-1), flavonoid (0.05- 0.12 mg ml^-1), phenol (0.077- 0.978 mg ml^-1), saponin (0.04- 0.08 mg ml^-1) and tannin (0.283- 0.982 mg ml^-1). The leaves of the plants have the highest amount of tannins and phenols, while the seeds contain the highest concentration of alkaloids and flavonoids. The least amount of saponin was found in the seeds of the plants. The results obtained were discussed in respect to the roles of the plants and their phytochemicals in maintenance of good health.