IDENTIFICATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS FROM THE FRUITS OF CUCUMIS TRIGONUS ROXB. BY GC-MS ANALYSIS

Cucumis trigonus Roxb. (Fam. Cucurbitaceae) commonly known as “Thummittikai” in Tamil, and “Vishala” in Sanskrit is reported to possess a number of medicinal values. In Indian Traditional Systems of Medicine the fruit pulp of the plant is used as expectorant, liver tonic, stomachic and purgative. The present study has been carried out for the identification of the phytochemicals present in the fruits of Cucumis trigonus using GC-MS analysis. The GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic extract of Cucumis trigonus showed the presence of fourteen phytochemical constituents. The major chemical constituents are: demeclocycline, glycodeoxycholic acid, 3α,7α,12α -trihydroxycoprostanic acid, chlortetracycline, azafrin methyl ester, giganteumgenin N, phorbol 12,13-dihexanoate, astaxanthin, tetrahydrospirilloxanthin. These different phytochemical constituents have been found to possess a wide range of activities. Hence Cucumis trigonus may serve as candidate for the discovery of new drugs in the treatment of liver disorder.