Exploring polyphenolic profiles by using a mutlvariate approach in Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad

Plants have held profound cultural and medicinal significance throughout human history. Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad, known as Tumba in Rajasthan, Kaudtumba in Punjab, and Garhtumba or Indriyian in Haryana, stands as a crucial wild plant, resembling the watermelon vine and thriving in arid terrains. Local communities have long utilized this wild plant for diverse purposes. The genus is abundant in secondary metabolites, playing a pivotal role in the body's defense mechanisms. This study aimed to unravel the essential phytochemicals present in Citrullus colocynthis. The preliminary phase involved quantitative analysis, followed by screening of total phenolic and flavonoid content of different accessions. Subsequently, HPLC was employed to quantify the variance of phenolics and flavonoids in 10 selected accessions. The study highlights significant phenolic content in accession CRR19064 (69.17 ± 0.03 mg TAE/g) and CRB19004 (69.12 ± 0.01 mg TAE/g) from methanolic extracts. Regarding flavonoids, accession CHR19013 displayed the highest content (76.74 ± 0.03 mg QE/g), followed by accession CPM19021 (74.37 ± 0.01 mg QE/g) from methanolic extracts, underlining their potential medicinal benefits. The Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to explore correlations between bioactive components and accessions. The first five principal components explained 83.41% of cumulative variability. Further, Agglomerative Hierarchical Analysis categorized the accessions into four clusters. These findings crucial to discover the therapeutic potential applications of this wild plant, paving the way for future research and targeted utilization of its bioactive components. In conclusion, the study underscores the wealth of bioactive compounds in C. colocynthis, reaffirming its potential in traditional medicine and providing valuable insights for future pharmacological research and drug development.