Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 22 No 1 (2018): 151 - 156

STUDIES ON PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF Citrullus lanatus PEELS

(Kajian Jujukan Fitokimia dan Antimikrob Kulit Citrullus lanatus)

Siti Suhaila Harith¹*, Muhd Harith Mazlun¹, Marlina Mohd Mydin², Liliwirianis Nawi¹, Rohaiza Saat³

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang, 26400 Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia

²Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak, 35400 Tapah, Perak, Malaysia

³Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA Negeri Sembilan, 72000, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: ssuhaila@pahang.uitm.edu.my

Received: 4 December 2016; Accepted: 1 December 2017

Abstract

Citrullus lanatus is one of many species that are categorized under the genus Citrullus, which originates from Family Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family. It has been scientifically proven that many members of this family possessed pharmaceutical and medicinal values such as Cucurbit pepo (pumpkin), Citrullus colocynthis (bitter cucumber) and Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) is one of them. The aim of this study is to determine its phytochemical constituents and potential antimicrobial activity of C. lanatus, particularly in its peels. The peels were put under sequential extraction process involving two types of solvents, namely, methanol and hexane. Citrullus lanatus extracts were then evaluated in terms of its phytochemical constituents, by six qualitative phytochemical screening tests. In assessing C. lanatus potential antimicrobial activity, the peels extract were tested on two types of microorganisms, which are Staphylococcus epidermidis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes by using disk-diffusion method. For both solvents used, phytochemical screening tests verified the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin and terpenoid, except for phenolic compounds in the fruit peels. Result of antimicrobial activity revealed that C. lanatus peels extract impeded growth to both tested microorganisms. In conclusion, present study suggested that C. lanatus can be further developed to utilize its medicinal and pharmaceutical values.

Keywords: antimicrobial, Citrullus lanatus, disk-diffusion, phytochemical, sequential extraction

Abstrak

Citrullus lanatus merupakan salah satu daripada banyak spesies di bawah genus Citrullus yang berasal dari keluarga Cucurbitaceae, keluarga labu. Ia telah terbukti secara saintifik bahawa banyak ahli keluarga ini memiliki nilai farmaseutikal dan nilai perubatan dan tidak terkecuali Cucurbit pepo (labu), Citrullus colocynthis (timun pahit) dan Citrullus lanatus (tembikai). Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan juzuk fitokimia dan potensi aktiviti antimikrob C. lanatus, terutamanya kulit. Kulit diekstrak secara berperingkat yang melibatkan dua jenis pelarut iaitu, metanol dan heksana. Ekstrak C. lanatus kemudiannya dinilai dari segi juzuk fitokimia, oleh enam ujian saringan fitokimia kualitatif. Dalam menilai C. lanatus aktiviti antimikrob yang berpotensi, ekstrak kulit yang telah diuji ke atas dua jenis mikroorganisma iaitu Staphylococcus epidermidis dan Trichophyton mentagrophytes menggunakan kaedah cakera resapan. Bagi kedua-dua pelarut yang digunakan, ujian saringan fitokimia mengesahkan kehadiran alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tanin dan terpenoid kecuali sebatian fenolik dalam kulit buah. Keputusan aktiviti antimikrob mendedahkan bahawa ekstrak kulit C. lanatus merencat pertumbuhan kedua-dua mikroorganisma yang diuji. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa C. lanatus mempunyai nilai-nilai perubatan dan farmaseutikal yang boleh dibangunkan.

Keywords: antimikrob, Citrullus lanatus, cakera resapan, fitokimia, pengekstrakan secara berperingkat.

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