saponin

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of fruit shape and location on the chemical constituents (Sugars, saponins, protein, oil and moisture content) of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. fruit. Balanites aegyptiaca mature healthy fruits, were collected from Jhunjhanu Province in Rajsthan, and Ambala Province in Punjab, in the period (2003-2005). The percentages of the fruit different parts were determined and chemical and statistical analysis (SAS) methods were carried out to obtain the percentages of sugar, saponin, protein, oil and moisture contents in the Balanites’ fruit as well as to detect the significant variation between shapes and locations. The study found that, there were significant differences (P> 0.05), between the four fruit shapes (oblong, elongate, spherical and oval fruits) in the studied chemical constituents across and within sites and between locations. The highest saponin content (4%) was obtained by oblong fruits while the highest invert sugar (40.9%) and oil content (44.9%) were obtained by oval fruits. Saponin average percentage obtained in Ambala location was double that obtained in Jhunjhanu; the higher sugar percentage was obtained in Jhunjhanu location. Protein content was found to be of higher content than that reported in the literature; it ranged between 49.6 (oval fruit) and 53.8% (oblong fruit). Moisture content was not significantly different between shapes and locations of a mean 9.3%. The study concluded with that, the amounts of sugar, saponin, oil and protein, in Balanites fruit; were found in considerable percentages calling to introduce Balanites different types to the food, pharmaceutical and medicinal industries.

Plant phenolics, saponins and flavonoids have a powerful biological activity, which outlines the necessity of their determination. The present work was aimed to determine the total phenolic, flavonoid and saponin contents in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Sesbania cannabina leaves. The total phenolic content was determined by folin-ciocatechu reagent using gallic acid as standard and total flavonoid content by aluminium chloride assay using rutin as a standard .The total saponin content was determined by vanillin reagent using diosgenin as a standard. Methanol extract of leaves showed highest amount of total phenolic content (231±0.86 mg/g equivalent of Gallic acid), total flavonoid content (87.10±0.38 mg/g equivalent of rutin) and total saponin content (50.66±0.57 mg/g equivalent of diosgenin). The results obtained from the present study provides evidence that extracts of Sesbania cannabina leaves contains secondary metabolites and this justifies the use of plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases.