EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT SOLVENTS ON PHYTOCHEMISTRY PROFILE OF WATER MELON (CITRULLUS VULGARIS SCHRAD.) SEED EXTRACTS

Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. has occupied a popular place in the indigenous system of folk medicine because of its high nutritional and antioxidant properties. The study aims to elucidate the extractive yield percentage and screen the seed extracts of watermelon using different solvents for its phytochemical profile. The solvents selected were Methanol, Ethanol, Chloroform, Petroleum ether, Ethyl acetate, Acetone and Hot aqueous extracts. The shade dried powdered seed material was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using different solvents and Pressurized hot water extraction. The resultant extracts were concentrated and the preliminary screening for phytochemical profiling was carried out using standard laboratory protocols. Analysis of the extractive yield percentages using different solvent extracts and pressurized hot water extract showed hot aqueous seed extract to have the highest yield percentage. The seed extracts with different solvents and pressurized hot water extract were screened and tabulated with the presence and/or absence of various phytochemical constituents such as the primary metabolites and the secondary metabolites and various other bioactive elements which are thought to be responsible for its antioxidant properties.