SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF CHLOROFORM ROOTS EXTRACT OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS (L.) USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae traditionally used as an abortifacient, cathartic, purgative, vermifuse and for the treatment of fever, amenorrhea, jaundice, leukemia, rheumatism, cancer, diabetes and hair loss. Root sample of the plant were subjected to phytochemical investigation through Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty two major phytochemical compounds were identified in the chloroform extract of Citrullus colocynthis. The identification of phytochemical compounds is based on the peak area, retention time molecular weight and molecular formula.