Isolation, Structural Elucidation and Therapeutic Potentials of Root of Cucurbita pepo

The roots of Cucurbita pepo were investigated with the aim of identifying bioactive constituents with therapeutic potentials. To achieve this, the roots of Cucurbita pepo were harvested, washed, air dried and grounded into the powder. The ground material was extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The extracts were fractionated using column chromatography and fractions were monitored using thin layer chromatography. The fractions were characterised using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Phytochemical screening showed that the extracts contained sterols and terpenoids, alkaloids, resins, flavonoids, saponins and carbohydrates. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis led to the identification of hexadecanoic acid or palmitic acid, alpha-spinasterol and squalene. Some of these compounds may represent a new pharmacological approach in the development of novel and adjuvant therapy for several medical conditions.