Aside from the photosynthetic value of the chloroplast pigments chlorophyll and b-carotene, it is encouraging to mention that they have other good uses – in medicine, industry, etc. Dr. Wescott’s long test and experimentation revealed chlorophyll fights body odours. whilst carotenoids are of considerable interest because they are great antioxidants, stimulate the immune system and are required for the production of provitamin A. They are credited with helping to protect against cancer. In a very recent study, Dr Ross Whitehead and co-workers of St Andrews university discovered that they also boost physical appearance and improve skin tone and colour. The aforementioned economic applications of these chloroplast pigments informed the present work. In this work, chlorophyll was extracted from the leaves of Telfaria occidentalis using methanol and acetone. The resultant solution was subjected to successive purification giving a yield of 0.12g per 200g of the leaves; which is in good comparison with the yield obtained by previous workers. Solvent effect study of the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll shows wavelength shifts within acceptable limits for polar and non-polar solvents. In the case of b-carotene, a 50:50 mixture of acetone and hexane was used to extract 100 grams of the crushed Telfairia occidentalis leaves. The yield of the resultant pure crystals of b-carotene was 92.9mg per 100g of the crushed leaves. Solvent effect study of the absorption spectrum of b-carotene shows wavelength shifts within acceptable limits in non-polar solvents. As the separated b-carotene progressed down the chromatographic glass column, the glass column segment where the b-carotene progressively accumulated was observably hot and the glass column shattered into pieces during clean-up after the bench work having been weakened by the said heating effect. Although Tinocco et al reported that all wavelengths from near –UV to near –IR are absorbed by chloroplast pigments during photosynthesis, I deduce from the incidental observation of the heating effect of b-carotene that b-carotene absorbs radiation in the near – IR region transferable to chlorophyll for the photosynthetic process. Consequent upon the therapeutic value of b-carotene and chlorophyll highlighted above, it is hereby suggested that processed edible green leaves and carrots be incorporated in herbal medical preparations due to their health benefits.

Extraction and purification of some chloroplast pigments from the leaves of Telfaria Occidentialis and study of solvent effects on their absorption spectra 1

251st National Meeting (2016)

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