ANALYSIS OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE SHOOT OF PLECTRANTHUS HADIENSIS

Abstract

The herbal renaissance has been taking place throughout the world over the last few years. Over the period, herbal medicines have moved from an empirical basis to its present as an increasingly sc ientifically based system of healing, being referred as phytotherapy. Although the traditional medicinal systems adopt a holistic approach while using herbs or their combinations, knowledge of individual constituents facilitates in developing qua lity contr ol methods, extraction procedures, understanding of pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetics. In tune with this effort, our current study focuses on the phytochemistry of the methano lic extract of the shoot part of Plectranthus hadiensis , a plant used in Ayurvedic preparations as well as other traditional systems of medicine. The preliminary phytochemical studies had revealed the presence of terpenes in the extract . TLC, HPTLC, GC - MS and NMR studies con firmed the presence of mono - , sesqui - and di terpen es in the extract. The terpene - rich methanolic extract when tested for its cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality assay showed an LC 50 of 145µg/mL . The presence of terpenes thus supported the use of this plant in various medicinal preparations. Key word s: Plectranthus hadiensis , GC - MS, NMR, Brine shrimp assay.