Pharmacognostic Studies and Elemental Analysis of the Surface Structures of the Seeds of Colocynthis Citrullus (Thunb)

Abstract

The plant Colocynthis citrullus Thunb. family Cucurbitaceae, found in northern Nigeria and in most tropical and sub-tropical countries, is eaten as food as well as employed ethno-medically in the treatment of various ailments. These include; remedy for jaundice, ascites and rheumatism. The aim of this study is to determine some of the pharmacognostic characters of the seeds of Colocynthis-citrulus. The macroscopic, microscopic, organoleptic and chemomicroscopic characters as well as the numerical standards, preliminary phytochemical screening and elemental analysis of the seeds were determined. The microscopical studies using electron microscope (SEM) shows the general characteristic of the seeds with presence of parenchyma cells having irregular polygonal cells, the anticlinal cell walls having undulated boundaries and the periclinal cell walls having flat micro papillae. The results of the numerical standards showed the moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water and alcohol extractive values of 13.5, 6.8, 1.4, 22 and 11 respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroidal glycosides and flavonoids while the elemental analysis shows the presence of important metals such as lead, nickel and zinc. The study of the pharmacognostic-characters, elemental analysis and phytochemical assessment of C. citrullus-may be useful towards the standardization of the plant.