Phytochemical and biological investigation of the rind of Citrullus lamatus available in Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: Citrullus lanatus is a tropical fruit in Bangladesh. The objective of this study is phytochemical and biological investigation of the rind of Citrullus lanatus available in Bangladesh.

Methods: Thin layer chormatogarphy were used to detect the presence of various types of compound in rind. In vitro antioxidant effects were measured by DPPH scavenging assay. In vitro anti- diabetic assay was carried out by Glucose uptake in Yeast cells. Disc diffusion assay was performed to show the antibacterial effect using gram positive, gram negative strains of bacteria and fungi. The anti-inflammatory activities of different fraction of Citrullus lanatus rind were investigated for In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity by human red blood cell membrane stabilization (HRBC) method. Receptor binding activities was performed by hemagglutination inhibition assay.

Result: some fraction of the Citrullus lanatus rind contains flavonoids and other biologically active compounds. The extract showed poor antioxidant. DCM fraction of stripe variety showed antibacterial activities against several strains of bacteria. Xylene fraction of stripe variety showed anti-diabetic activity. DCM fraction of deep green variety showed anti-inflammatory activity. DCM fraction of light green variety showed potential binding capacity to human erythrocytes.

Conclusion: Therefore, all varieties of Citrullus lanatus rind contain medicinal active components in different ratios.