Phytochemical Screening, Volatile Fingerprinting, and Antiprotozoal Capacity of Crude Extracts from Carica papaya Seeds

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 4, No. 1, January 2013 | pp. 1–8

DOI: 10.46882/2013/IJC/000052

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Phytochemical Screening, Volatile Fingerprinting, and Antiprotozoal Capacity of Crude Extracts from Carica papaya Seeds

Names of Authors: A. E. Ogunkoya¹, J. M. S. Cabral²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
²Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract: Carica papaya seeds are frequently utilized in traditional tropical medicine as an anthelmintic agent, yet their volatile bioactive profiles require deep chromatographic mapping to clarify structural efficacy. This investigation reports the qualitative phytochemical screening, volatile constituent identification via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and in vitro antiprotozoal capacity of hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol seed extracts. Qualitative testing revealed a heavy presence of alkaloids, benzyl glucosinolates, phenolics, and flavonoids concentrated within the semi-polar ethyl acetate fraction. GC-MS profiling of the ethyl acetate extract identified 15 prominent peaks, with benzyl isothiocyanate (38.42%), oleic acid (22.15%), and palmitic acid methyl ester (12.30%) emerging as the primary bioactive components. The antiprotozoal potential was evaluated in vitro utilizing susceptibility assays against Giardia lamblia trophozoites, benchmarked against metronidazole. The ethyl acetate extract displayed the highest antiprotozoal activity, yielding an IC50 value of 15.8 μg/mL, compared to 2.4 μg/mL achieved by the standard drug. A linear correlation was observed between the concentration of benzyl isothiocyanate and protozoal cell mortality, validating that thiocyanate derivatives act as the driving contributors to structural cellular disruption, lending scientific validation to traditional medical usage.

Keywords: Carica papaya; Seed extract; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Benzyl isothiocyanate; Antiprotozoal activity; Giardia lamblia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 02, 2012; Revised: August 14, 2012; Accepted: September 10, 2012; Published: January 03, 2013.

Citation: Ogunkoya, A. E., & Cabral, J. M. S. (2013). Phytochemical Screening, Volatile Fingerprinting, and Antiprotozoal Capacity of Crude Extracts from Carica papaya Seeds. International Journal of Chemistry, 4(1), 1–8.

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