1. Introduction
Solanum anguivi, commonly known as African eggplant, can be found in many
non-arid locations in Africa. The plant resembles both an eggplant and a tomato. The
structure, fruits, and leaves of the plant can vary. The medical benefits of the roots include
relief of coughs, nasal ulcers, asthma, difficult parturition, tooth ache, cardiac disorder,
worm complaints, spinal guard disorder, and fever. The leaves and fruits when rubbed with
sugar also can be used as external application for itching. In an effort to find an
explanation why Solanum anguivi has these attributes and to discover what other uses the
plant has, this project was done using food chromatography. These health benefits will be
important in making the plant more popular in the growing international food market.
Findings
Walter Little
Methodology
Conclusion
The TXQB supported the conclusion that Solanum anguivi contained chlorogenic acid,
caffeic acid, gluconic acid, 4-Hydroxyphenyl-pyruvic acid, and Quercetin
3-(3-p-coumaroylglucoside) among other components. Chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant, is
a stimulant about a third as potent as caffeine and is suspected to be responsible for the
laxative effect in prunes. 4-Hydroxyphenyl-pyruvic acid is a fever and inflammation
reducer as well as a minor pain reliever. The other components found in this particular
experiment either had no proven or significant effects on the human body. This research,
along with prior findings, will make the plant more popular with consumers internationally.
Concentrated components can potentially be used as medicine in the future.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. Pei Chen (USDA), my assistant mentor, Oluwakemi Adeola (UDC), and my parents.
• Opened the Thermo Xcalibur Qual Browser (TXQB)
• Inputted the chosen chemical
component mass into the
elemental composition tab
(The first chemical formula
without Nitrogen is the
formula of a suspected
chemical component of
Solanum anguivi)
• Researched the chemical
component to verify that the
component was in the plant
• The TXQB automatically created three graphs after opening the raw data from the High Performance Liquid
Chromatographer in the TXQB program
• Determined correlating peaks in the top and center graphs
• Selected the summit of the peak, in the top graph
• Chose a possible chemical component mass for further analysis
FS30 ultrasonicator Digital Analytical Balance
Vortex Machine
Solanum anguivi flower
The TXQB
supported the
conclusion that
the fruit of
Solanum anguivi
contains
• Gluconic acid
• Chlorogenic
acid
• Caffeic acid
• 4-Hydro
xyphenyl-
pyruvic acid
The TXQB
supported the
conclusion that
the leaf of
Solanum anguivi
contains
• Quercetin
3-(3-p-coumaroyl
glucoside)
3
Solanum anguivi plant
Solanum anguivi leaf extract in a test tube
http://www.africamuseum.be/prelude/prelude_pic/Solanum_anguivi2.jpg
Solanum anguivi plant
http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=14&id=3424#image=1966
Solanum anguivi flower
http://www.africamuseum.be/prelude/prelude_pic/Solanum_anguivi3.jpg
http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/images/pictures/sola
_solanum_anguivi_rvbli_10-11-08_64_3424_bf6a10.jpg
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1
http://www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de/images/pictures/sola_solanum_anguivi_rvbli_so6f9c~1_3424_ec81bf.jpg