AN EVALUATION OF LUFFA AEGYPTIACA MILL PLANT LEAVES (CUCURBITACEAE)
Abubakar Abba. Abdurra’uf, R. Idris, Salamatu Suleiman, Suleiman M.D.
Abstract
This study is aimed at contributing more elaborate ways for authenticating Luffa aegyptiaca Mill (Cucurbitaceae) plant by studying the leaves through the use of Light microscope to undertake Pharmacognostic evaluations of Luffa aegyptiaca Macroscopical, Microscopical, Physical Constants, Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Thin Layer Chromatography were employed. Studies of the leaf revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata and covering trichomes at the lower and upper surfaces. Stomatal number and stomatal index; 14.09 ± 1.35 and 6.3 ± 0.12, vein islet and Veinlet termination; 9.6 ± 0.09 and 21.8 ± 0.07 were observed and recorded respectively. Physical constant studies on the leaf showed moisture content of 10.36 ± 0.12%, Ash value of 13.3 ± 0.21%, Acid insoluble ash 9.03 ± 0.12%, alcohol and water extractive values; 2.07 ± 0.13g and 4.73 ± 0.7g respectively. Preliminary Phytochemical screening of the leaf, revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, tannin, anthraquinone, cardiac glycoside, coumarins and carbohydrates. Thin Layer chromatography of the leaf methanol extract showed 12 spots of variable colors with P-Anisaldehyde and 3 spots with ferric chloride spraying reagents these are indications for the presence of the above mentioned secondary metabolites as observed during phytochemical screening. These characteristics and parameters add courage and value to the community usage of the plant for medicinal purpose traditionally. For the research is an important factor to detect adulteration and could help in the classification and identification in plants taxonomy.