Bioactive components in ethanol extract of Citrullus lanatus rind using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy

The knowledge of bioactive compounds present in a plant can be helpful in utilizing it for a medicinal purpose in life. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of ethanol extract of Citrullus lanatus rind (CLR) was done to identify bioactive compounds and selectivity or abundance percentage in ethanol extract of CLR. The extract was obtained by fractionating crude ethanol CLR extract in order of increasing polarity, n-Hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and ethanol. The GC-MS analysis was carried out on GC system comprising Gas Chromatograph interfaced to Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) instrument. The bioactive compounds obtained were compared with database of spectrum of known components stored in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry library. The GC-MS analysis of ethanol extract of CLR revealed the presence of androst-4-en-9-thiocyanomethyl-11-ol-3,17-dione a steroid which is a precusor for androgen and estrogen production. As well as cyclooctasiloxane hexadecamethyl and octasiloxane hexadecamethyl in which both of them contain silicon an essential trace element for collagen and bone formation .The presence of these compounds validates the use of ethanol extract of CLR as a good antioxidants, antibacterial agents and stimulant in precursor of male reproductive hormone production. The ethanol extract of CLR can be of great value in ethno-veterinary practice.