Estimation of Phytoconstituents from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad Roots Extract by GC-MS Spectroscopy

Citrullus colocynthis (L. ) Schrad (family Cucurbitaceae) is wide spread annual uncultivated plant grows fast in sandy soil. The present study was undertaken on the roots of this plant to investigate the possible bioactive phytoconstituents using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. GC-MS analysis of hydro alcoholic extract from roots has led to the identification of 57 compounds by comparison of their retention indices and mass spectra fragmentation patterns with those stored in the GC-MS computer library. The main constituents identified as glycerol, 2-methoxy-4-vinlphenol, 1-pentadecanol, pluchidiol, myristic acid, oleic acid, codein, beta-codein, morphine, thebaol, thebaine, dimethylmorphine, 1- (3, 4-dimethoxybenzyl) -6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinoline, protopine, kryptopine, narceine, alpha-narcotine, methyl-3-hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oate, sebacic acid, 2, 7-dimethylocta-7-en-5-yn-4-yl heptyl ester, verticiol etc. In spite of its high medicinal value, the GC/MS analysis of its root part is not reported earlier.