Pharmacological Activities of Phytochemical and Micro-Element Constituents of Successive Extracts of Luffa cylindrica (M.J. Roem) Leaf

Background and Objective: Luffa cylindrica is a plant used in the traditional medicine of Nigeria to treat different ailment conditions. Chemical constituents present in plants that are used in traditional medicine were reported to possess pharmacological activities. The present study investigated the pharmacological activities of the phytochemical and microelement constituents of successive extracts of L. cylindrica leaf. Materials and Methods: Different extracts of dried-powder leaves of L. cylindrica were prepared by successive extraction using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and distilled water. The extracts were screened for the presence of tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, saponins and phlobatannins using standard methods. Microelements in the dried-powder leafwere determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and saponins were present in varying amounts in the different successive extracts. The dried powder leaf contained considerable amount of potassium (9.80±0.97 mg/100 g), sodium (0.32±0.12 mg/100 g), phosphorus (6.17±0.41 mg/100 g), calcium (0.42±0.97 mg/100 g), magnesium (0.12±0.0 mg/100 g), zinc (7.67±0.02 mg/100 g), chromium (0.70±0.01 mg/100 g), vitamins C (6.92±0.03 mg/100 g) and E (0.11±0.01 mg/100 g). Conclusion: The selective solubility of phytochemicals in the different solvents is responsible for conferring a wide range of therapeutic and pharmacological activities attributed to L. cylindricathus suggesting the relevance of solvents as a decisive factor for confirming the presence of bioactive principles in plants which could serve as a benchmark in drug discovery. The mineral and vitamin constituents detected in the leaves of L. cylindrica suggested that the plant can serve as a source of dietary supplement for boosting the immune system.