Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis of Trichosanthes Anguina Linn. Fruit

Trichosanthes anguina Linn. (snake gourd) is a cultivated species from the family Cucurbitaceae. The nutritional point of view fruit is important sources of nutrients necessary for human and animal health, the nutritional values make the plant pharmacologically and therapeutically important. It increases appetite and acts as a tonic and stomachic, lessens thirst, cures biliousness and good source of minerals, fibers and vitamin A, B and C and the roots and seeds are anthelmintic, antidiarrhoel and used in the treatment of syphilis. Phytochemical study were carried out on the fruits of Trichosanthes anguina Linn. by using eight different solvents such as aqueous, benzene, chloroform, petroleum ether, acetone, methanol, ethanol and rectified spirit. The presence of secondary metabolites from various extracts reported presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, polyoses, polyuronoids, leucoanthocyanin, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and lipids.