Chemical and Biological Characterization of Solanum Erianthum Methanol Extract

Student: Oluwakemi Shadiat Olawale (Project, 2025)
Department of Industrial Chemistry
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State


Abstract

The chemical and biological characterization of Solanum erianthum methanol extract was conducted to evaluate its phytochemical composition and potential therapeutic applications. The study focused on determining the percentage yield of the extract, identifying its chemical constituents through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and UV-Visible spectroscopy, and assessing its biological activities, including enzyme inhibition assays. The methanol extraction yielded 45.1%, indicating a substantial presence of bioactive compounds. LC analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, and other secondary metabolites, which were further confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, showing characteristic absorbance peaks of polyphenolic and conjugated compounds. Biological evaluations included enzyme inhibition assays for a-glucosidase, a-amylase, and tyrosinase. The extract demonstrated moderate inhibitory activity against a-glucosidase and a-amylase, suggesting potential anti-diabetic properties by regulating carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, tyrosinase inhibition was observed, indicating potential applications in dermatology for skin-whitening and antioxidant treatments. The enzyme inhibition kinetics revealed a dose-dependent response, although the extract's activity was lower than that of the standard inhibitor

Keywords
Solanum erianthum Methanol extract Chemical Classification Biological Classification enzymes inhibition Inhibition kinetics Antioxidant