DIRECT DETECTION OF TRITERPENOID SAPONINS IN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Authors

  • P. G. Kareru
  • J. M. Keriko
  • A. N. Gachanja
  • G. M. Keni

Keywords:

Medicinal plants, saponins, infrared spectra, potassium bromide, glycoside

Abstract

Direct detection of saponins in medicinal plants using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is reported in this paper. Crude dry plant powders were mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) powder and compressed to a thin pellet for infrared examination. FTIR spectra of the test samples showed –OH, -C=O, C-H, and C=C absorptions characteristic of oleanane triterpenoid saponins. The C-O-C absorptions indicated glycoside linkages to the sapogenins. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of saponins in the tested specimens. Entada leptostachya was used as a reference sample. Dry plant powder was extracted sequentially with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. FTIR spectra of the reference sample powder and its organic solvent extracts showed characteristic saponin absorption peaks. These results indicated that direct detection of saponins in medicinal plants was possible by infrared analysis. Lengthy exhaustive chemical analyses necessary for detection of saponins could be avoided.

Author Biographies

P. G. Kareru

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

J. M. Keriko

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

A. N. Gachanja

Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

G. M. Keni

Department of Food Science and Post-Harvest Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

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Published

2007-09-04

How to Cite

Kareru, P. G., Keriko, J. M., Gachanja, A. N., & Keni, G. M. (2007). DIRECT DETECTION OF TRITERPENOID SAPONINS IN MEDICINAL PLANTS. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 5(1), 56–60. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/325

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2008)

Section

Research Papers

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