Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice

Characterization and Preliminary Structural Elucidation of Flavonoids in the Seed of Telfairia occidentalis

Samuel Nzube Nwosu *

Department of Chemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Flavonoids are a group of plant compounds with a potential health benefits, including ant-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study aimed to characterize the flavonoids in the seed of Telfaria Occidentalis using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Ultraviolet(UV) analysis.

Telfaria Occidentalis was extracted using methanol, and the extracts were analyzed using TLC and UV. The retention factors (Rf) of the flavonoids were determined, and the UV spectra were compared to those of standard compounds.

The TLC analysis revealed the presence of four flavonoids in the extracts of Telfaria Occidentalis, with Rf values of 6.00, 26.00, 37.00, 63.00 which were consistent with Vitexin, Gossypetin, Quercetin, and Kaempetrol respectively. The UV spectra of these compounds were also consistent with these flavonoids. These results shows that Telfaria Occidentalis is rich in flavonoids with potential health benefits. However, further research are needed to confirm the structures and chemical bonds of these flavonoids.

Keywords: Telfaria occidentalis seed, flavonoids, characterization, chemical bonds, green tea, natural compounds, human diseases, anti-carcinogenic properties

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