PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTICANCER AND ANTIFUNGAL PROFILING OF PASSIFLORA EDULIS VINES

ABSTRACT

Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa (PEFF) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the family Passifloraceae. It has been used in traditional medicine over time in the treatment of different disease conditions. This study aims to identify the phytochemicals in the vines of Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa responsible for its folkloric usage. Standard protocols were used to screen for its phytochemical contents. High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were used to identify and quantify the phytoconstituents in the methanol vine extract. Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, saponins and triterpenoids were present in the vines of PEFF. Prominent compound revealed by HPLC analysis include pyrogallol (18.64%), ferulic acid (13.71%), ellagic acid (12.88%), salicylic acid (10.83%), ribalinidine (10.50%) and cresol (9.67%). While the GC-MS analysis showed Octadec-9-enoic acid (67.78%); 3-methylindole-2-carboxlic acid,4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-ethyl ester (16.89 %) and 3- aminopyrrolidine (14.52 %). Thus, the vines of PEFF contain phytoconstituents responsible for the observed pharmacological activities, justifying its usage in folk medicine.