Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Studies of Solanum Macrocarpum L. and Solanum Aethiopicum L. Fruits.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2021|ISSN 2454-6194

Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Studies of Solanum Macrocarpum L. and Solanum Aethiopicum L. Fruits.

Muhammad Ridwan¹, Adamu H.M¹, Yushau Salim²
Department of Chemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.

Abstract: The indigenous eggplants in Nigeria are cultivated for their leaves, fruits, or both, eaten as vegetables or used as traditional medicine. However, solanum aethiopicum L. and solanum macrocarpon L. is the most cultivated and most utilized in Nigeria. The phytochemical constituents, quantitative composition and chromatographic analysis of the two species of garden eggs fruits were studied. The samples obtained were oven-dried at 40°C and the dried matter were successfully soaked in 80% methanol while the resulting crude fraction of S. aethiopicum (13.40 %) and S. macrocarpon (13.00 %) were partitioned with petroleum ether (6.50 %) and ethyl acetate (4.00 %) respectively. The findings from qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, phenolics, terpenoids, flavanoids, saponins, and glycosides while alkaloid, saponin, and flavonoid were quantified in both species of garden eggs. The results revealed solanum aethiopicum L. contained higher levels of beneficial agents than solanum macrocarpon L. The thin layer chromatographic analysis showed a higher retention factor in S. macrocarpon L. (0.90, 0.98, 0.99, and 0.5) than in S. aethiopicum L. (0.70, 0.40, 0.55, and 0.75) at various ratios of n-hexane and chloroform. The two indigenous eggplants are not only nutritionally and therapeutically valuable but also have the potential of providing precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs.

Keywords: solanum aethipicum, solanum macrocarpum, phytochemical, chromatography, qualitative and quantitative.

I.INTRODUCTION

Solanum species (eggplants) belong to the family of Solanaceae and the plant genus Solanum with over 1,000 species worldwide. It is represented in Nigeria by about 25 species including those domesticated; with their leaves, fruits, or both eaten as vegetables or used in traditional medicine (1). They are known as garden eggs in Nigeria and are called gauta in Hausa, afufa or anara in Igbo, or igbagba in Yoruba. They are highly valued constituents of the Nigerian foods and indigenous medicines that are either eaten raw or cooked, very popular in mixed and rich dishes such as stews and soups (2), especially in the southern and western parts of Nigeria, although, they are highly cultivated in the north (3). Eggplants come in different species and varieties. They also vary in fruit color, shape, and size (3,4). Solanum melongena is small and white, having two varieties that are round or oval; yellow and red, when they are ripe and overripe respectively. They are either eaten raw as a dessert or cooked and used for the preparation of stews, soups, and sauces eaten with yam or plantain. Eggplants have indigenous medicinal uses,

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