SPECTROPHOTOMETRY (UV) AND THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY (TLC) OF TOTAL ALKALOIDS AND GLYCOSIDES OF CUCURBITACINS EXTRACTED FROM A PLANT USED IN THE TREATMENT OF UROGENITAL DISEASES: LAGENARIA SICERARIA

Mahamane Sabiou Sani Maazou*, Lewamy Mamadou, Yaou Chaibou, Aminatou Bako and Haoua Sabo

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plant extracts have always played an essential role as medicines to preserve our health. Lagenaria siceraria is a plant of the cucurbitaceae family widely used in the traditional Nigerian pharmacopoeia. Within the framework of the valorization of this plant, this study focused on the seeds and pulps of six (6) regions of Niger. This work was devoted to the selective extraction of total alkaloids and glycosides of cucurbitacins, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and spectrophotometry of these extracts. The yield of extracts in total alkaloids ranges from 0.2 to 10.51%. The highest yield is obtained with Maradi seeds (10.51%). For cucurbitacin glycosides, the yield varies from 1.88 to 24.80%. The highest yield is obtained with Tillabery pulp (24.80%). TLC and spectrophotometry have shown a wide diversity of chemical compounds with different maximum wavelengths and frontal references. The variation in the yields of total alkaloids and glycosides of cucurbitacins is significant not only according to the parts (seeds and pulp) but also according to the regions.

Keywords: Lagenaria siceraria is a plant of the cucurbitaceae family widely used in the traditional Nigerian pharmacopoeia.