Quantitative Determination of Alkaloid, Allicin, Glycoside and Saponin Constituents of the Leaves of Sansevieria senegambica Baker by Gas Chromatography

The alkaloid, allicin, glycoside and saponin levels of the leaves of Sansevieria senegambica were determined by gas liquid chromatography. The leaves are rich in alkaloids (93.76mg/kg wet weight and 293.91 mg/kg dry weight), with low allicin (1.2115 mg/kg wet weight and 3.7979 mg/kg dry weight) and saponin (0.94978 mg/kg wet weight and 2.97737 mg/kg dry weight), and very low glycoside (0.02547 mg/kg wet weight and 0.07985 mg/kg dry weight) contents. Twelve alkaloids were detected, consisting mainly of ambelline (about 24.39%), 6-hydoxybuphanidrine (18.10%) and crinamidine (17.73%). Of the three allicins detected, diallylthiosulphinate (about 52.70%) was the most abundant, while the most abundant saponin was avenacins B-1 (about 37.75%). These results show that the leaves are rich in alkaloids, lending credence to their use for medicinal purposes.