Publication: Quantitative and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis of Saponins from Three Kenyan Ruellia Species: Ruellia prostrata, Ruellia lineari-bracteolata and Ruellia bignoniiflora
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2018-06
Authors
Guantai, Eric
Wangia, Christine O.
Orwa, Jennifer A.
Muregi, Francis W.
Kareru,Patrick G.
Cheruiyot, Kipyegon
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Publisher
International Journal of Biological and Ecological Engineering
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Abstract
Ruellia (syn. Dipteracanthus) species are wild
perennial creepers belonging to the Acanthaceae family. These
species are reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
antioxidant, gastroprotective, anticancer, and immuno-stimulant
properties. Phytochemical screening of both aqueous and methanolic
extracts of Ruellia species revealed the presence of saponins.
Saponins have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, immuno-stimulant, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial,
anticarcinogenic, and antiulcerogenic activities. The objective of this
study was to quantify and analyze the Fourier transform infrared
(FTIR) spectra of saponins in crude extracts of three Kenyan Ruellia
species namely Ruellia prostrata (RPM), Ruellia lineari-bracteolata
(RLB) and Ruellia bignoniiflora (RBK). Sequential organic
extraction of the ground whole plant material was done using
petroleum ether (PE), chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and
absolute methanol by cold maceration, while aqueous extraction was
by hot maceration. The plant powders and extracts were mixed with
spectroscopic grade KBr and compressed into a pellet. The infrared
spectra were recorded using a Shimadzu FTIR spectrophotometer of
8000 series in the range of 3500 cm-1 - 500 cm-1 . Quantitative
determination of the saponins was done using standard procedures.
Quantitative analysis of saponins showed that RPM had the highest
quantity of crude saponins (2.05% ± 0.03), followed by RLB (1.4% ±
0.15) and RBK (1.25% ± 0.11), respectively. FTIR spectra revealed
the spectral peaks characteristic for saponins in RPM, RLB, and RBK
plant powders, aqueous and methanol extracts; O-H absorption (3265
- 3393 cm-1 ), C-H absorption ranging from 2851 to 2924 cm-1
, C=C
absorbance (1628 - 1655 cm-1 ), oligosaccharide linkage (C-O-C)
absorption due to sapogenins (1036 - 1042 cm-1 ). The crude saponins
from RPM, RLB and RBK showed similar peaks to their respective
extracts. The presence of the saponins in extracts of RPM, RLB and
RBK may be responsible for some of the biological activities
C. O. W is with the Department of Pharmacology, Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi,
Kenya (phone: +254 721 231553, e-mail: cwangia@jkuat.ac.ke).
J. A. O. is with the Resource Development and Knowledge Management-
Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
(phone: +254 722700864, e-mail: jorwa@kemri.org).
F. W. M. is with the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Mount Kenya
University, P.O. Box 342-01000, Thika, Kenya (phone: +254 729160202, e-
mail: fwamakima@yahoo.com).
P. G. K. is with the Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya (phone:
+254 722639823, e-mail: patgkareru@gmail.com).
K. C. is with the Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya (phone:
+254 725166604, e-mail: kipyegoncheruiyot2@gmail.com).
E.G. is with the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy,
University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (phone: +254
722955883, e-mail: eguantai@uon.ac.ke)