Component Identification and Starch Extraction from (Cassava) Manihot esculenta (Crantz)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Biochemistry Laboratory of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh. This study was undertaken for component identification and starch extraction from Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Different parts of the plant were used as experimental material. The presence of different types of components was identified through different tests. In the extraction, two methods were employed viz alcohol extract and water extract, Alcoholic extraction method was superior to water extraction method. The phyto-chemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, gums, saponins in leaf, bark and root extract of cassava. Tannins were identified in leaf extract but absent in root and bark extract. The result of steroids and flavonoids screening showed that no flavonoids were present but specific alkaloids cynogenic glycosides were present in the root of cassava. The Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) silica gel revealed the presence of amino acids in the root of cassava.