Ethnobotanical Leaflets 9: 6-14. 2005. Comparison in Various Bioactive Compounds of Leaves and
Seeds of Foeniculum Vulgare
Mill. Gulfraz,
M*., M. Arshad*, N. Uzma**, Kanwal** and K. Shabir** * Associate Professor, Department of
Biochemistry ** M.Sc.
Students, Department of Biochemistry Issued ABSTRACT Medicinal plants a gift
of nature are being used against various infections and diseases in the
subcontinent since past history. Herbs were use as food ( vegetables ) and flavors for hundred of years in many
parts of world. Whereas number of herbs have also been traditionally regarded
as natural remedies for common ailments of human population. Furthermore some
herbal plants are considered as house of medicines and played an important
role in nearly every culture on earth, including Key words ; Foeniculum vulgare, medicinal plants, chemical analysis. INTRODUCTION Approximately 80% of the words
population depends exclusively on plants for their health and healing. Where
as in the developed world, reliance on surgery and pharmaceutical medicine is
more usual but in the recent year, more and more people are complementing
their treatment with natural supplements. (Dursum et
al. 2004). Furthermore motivation of people towards herbs are increasing
due to their concern about the side effects of drugs, those are prepared from
synthetic materials. The people want to concern their own health rather than
merely submitting themselves to impersonal health care system. Many
botanicals and some common dietary supplements are good sources of
antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds (Leung and Foster, 1996: Nadkarni, 1976) Foeniculum vulgare belongs to family Apiaceae,
which is an annual, biennial or perennial aromatic herb, depending on the
variety ( Farrell, 1985: Wichtl
and Bisset, 1994). It is a source of Phytochemicals hormones (saponins),
Proteins, amino acids, fats, flavonoids and many
other organic compounds .while all of these organic compounds are important for
various purposes of human population. The use of these secondary compounds of
plants for the treatment of human�s ailments is indeed very old ( Aritomi and Kawasaki, 1984 :
Miura et al. 1986 ). Foeniculum vulgare
commonly known as fennel and develops an edible bulb contained thick base leaves,
which is becoming increasing popular as a vegetable. The leaves, stalks and
seeds (fruits) of the plant species are edible. It is used as carminative,
digestive, lactogogue and diuretic (Matin et al, 2002). However, Foeniculum
vulgare is an aromatic herb whose fruits are
oblong, ellipsoid or cylindrical, straight or slightly curved and greenish or
yellowish brown in colour. The weight of between 6
and 7 mg where as length is 6 mm and width 2mm. The dried, aromatic fruits
are widely employed in culinary preparations for flavoring bread, pastry and candies.
It is also use in alcohol liqueurs, as well as in cosmetic and medicinal
preparations. (Bernth, 1998: Matin
et al, 2002). This herb has finely out feathery foliage, umbels of mid summer
flowers, curved, ribbed seeds and a thick root. It is used as an expensive
and extravagant spice and vegetable in different parts of world. Its seeds
contain essential oil, which is used for many purposes by human population (Tanira, 1996: Leung and Foster, 1996).The oil of Foeniculum vulgare
regulates the peristaltic functions of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby
reducing emptying time and increasing the passage of gas. It also relieves
the spasm of intestines. It was experimentally observed that Foeniculum seeds are effective against hernias and
hydrocele when used with other salts or
ingredients. (Fathy et al. 2002 :
Ethernton et al. 2002 ). Therefore keeping in view the
importance of Foeniculum vulgare
the present study was undertaken with following aims and objectives. . To analyze bioactive compounds in
leave and seeds of Foeniculum vulgare. ����������� To
assess the Foeniculum leave and seeds for Saponin and Flavonoids. ����������� To
highlight effects of Foeniculum on health of
human population. MATERIALS
Collection and Preparation of Leave and Seeds Samples
The leave and seeds samples of Foeniculum vulgare
were analysed for various organic compounds in this
study. The leaves and seeds were collected from different hilly areas nearby Analysis of Total Protein, Amino acid
and Lipids from Leaves and Seeds of Foeniculum
vulgare The total protein content of leaves and
seeds were determine by using kjeldahal method
whereas total lipid content were determined by taking ether extraction by soxhlet apparatus whereas percentage of lipid was
determined by calculating initial and final weight of samples. Analysis of Protein and Amino acids by Thin Layer
Chromatography
The purified samples of leaves and
seeds of Foeniculum vulgare
were subjected to one and two dimensional thin layer chromatography.
Furthermore the Rf values of each amino acid was calculated
and compared with standard values. Analysis of Flavonoids and Saponins The analysis of flavonoid
and saponins from leaves and seeds of Foeniculum were carried out in the
column chromatography by using silica gel. The columns were washed with various
solvents ( Diethyl ether,n-propanol,ethanol
and methanol etc.) on the basis of their polarity order.( Aritomi
and Kawaski,1984: Gulfraz et al. 2004).
Furthermore 100 grams of samples has provided about 10 grams of purified (Flavonoid or Saponin ) compounds. Furthermore all chemicals used in this
study were analytical grade (Sigma and Merck ) and
were imported from abroad.
RESULTS The results of flavonoids, saponins, proteins, amino acids, fats etc are given in
the tables 1-6. Whereas comparison of various compounds in both leaves and
seeds are given in figures 1-2. Results obtained after analysis of leaves
and seeds of Foeniculum vulgare
indicates that flavonoids , saponins, proteins, amino
acid and fats were present in these samples.The
leaves contained higher concentration of flavonoids
and fat. Whereas the level of saponins, protein,
amino acids and other organic compounds were high in seeds. (Tables 1-6 and
Figs 1-2) . The seeds of Foeniculum
are considered as essential ingredients for many local medicines those can
used against stomach, kidney and liver infection and disorders. (Etherton, 2002: Matin et al.
2002). The organic compounds obtained from seeds will further increase the
market values of these valuable medicinal plants. The younger and fresh
leaves are consider as delicious and traditional vegetables in many areas of this
region (Karnick,1998) . Furthermore Seeds (fruits)
are being use in all most all of houses of this region for many purposes of
human population, whereas leaves are mostly used as vegetables either cooked
or in the form of salad.( Zaidi,1998 )
Figure 1. �Phytohormones (Saponin) extracted from seed of Foeniculum
Vulgare. Figure 2. �Flavonoids extracted
from leaf of Foeniculum Vulgare. Figure 3. �Proteins extracted from seeds of Foeniculum Vulgare. Table 1. The Percentage
(%) of different chemical compounds in leave and seeds of Foeniculum Vulgare.
Table 2 . The Percentage (%) of Saponins
in leave and seeds of Foeniculum Vulgare.
Table 3. The Percentage
(%) of Flovonoids in leave and seeds of Foeniculum
Vulgare.
Table 4. The Percentage
of Amino acids in leave and seeds of Foeniculum
Vulgare.
Table 5. Spectrophotometeric analysis ( 470 nm) of leave of Foeniculum
Vulgar after extraction of
various compounds with
different solvents.
Table 6. Spectrophotometeric analysis ( at 470 nm) of seeds of Foeniculum
Vulgare after extraction of
various compounds with
different solvents.
Figure
1:- Comparison in concentration, absorbance and pH values of saponins analyzed from
Seeds of Foeniculum vulgare with different solvents.
Figure
2:- Comparison in concentration, absorbance and pH values of Flavonoids analyzed
from leaves of Foeniculum
vulgare with different solvents.
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