Phytochemical and insecticidal investigation of Citrullus colocynthis, schrads

ABSTRACT

Hydrocarbons, alpha-spinasterol, beta-sitosterol, in addition to pentacyclic triterpenes, ursolic acid and beta-amyrin were isolated from the unsaponifiable matter [USM] of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad and were identified by GCMS. Analysis of the fatty acids methyl ester by GLC revealed the existence of 12 acids in the seeds and 14 acids in deseeded fruits. The major acid is palmitic [57.32%] in the seeds and [57.39%] in the deseeded fruits. Tetracyclic triterpenes were isolated and identified as cucurbitacins D, I, B, E, L from the chloroformic extract of seeds. Moreover, the biological activity of the successive extracts, as well as the unsaponifiable and saponifiable matter of the petroleum ether extract were checked against the cotton leaf worm and cow pea weevils insects