Evaluation of phytochemicals in select medicinal plants of the Caesalpinia species

K Sivasankari

doi:10.17485/ijst/2010/v3i12.9

Abstract

A comparative study of phytochemicals was made on leaf extracts of two herbal plants- Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz (a domesticated striking ornamental shrub) and Caesalpinia bonduc (L) Roxb (a wild spiny shrub) belonging to the family Caesalpinaceae. The leaf extracts were prepared with 4 different selected solvents for each plant to adjudge the major active principle in the solvent that has value in rational drug design. The qualitative analysis of phytochemicals encompasses carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, betacyanins, quinones, terepenoids, phenols, glycosides, cardiac glycosides and the results were the mean values of the triplet readings. The quantitative total phenol estimation has carved out the fact that the wild plants is contributing high values for the secondary metabolites than the domesticated plant triggering the notion domestication, the need of the hour for the distinct endangered wild medicinal plants shall be done without the loss of the quality of the drug, the property of the medicinal plants as a boon to the future generation.Keywords: Caesalpinia pulcherrima, caesalpinia bonduc, phytochemical analysis, leaf extracts.

Highlights

The four different solvent-extracts such as methanol, The medicinal plants are those that provide people choloroform, water and petroleum ether were taken for with medicines to treat illness, maintain and promote the phytochemical analysis of the C. pulcherrima and health
The phytochemicals are the wide variety of ethanol, methanol, hexane and water–extracts were taken compounds produced by plants manipulated wisely in the for phytochemical analysis of C. bonduc
C. pulcherrima Swartz is a leguminous, perennial, large shrub or small tree found throughout India

Summary

Introduction

The four different solvent-extracts such as methanol, The medicinal plants are those that provide people choloroform, water and petroleum ether were taken for with medicines to treat illness, maintain and promote the phytochemical analysis of the C. pulcherrima and health. C. pulcherrima Swartz is a leguminous, perennial, large shrub or small tree found throughout India It is commonly known as red bird of paradise. The results of the phytochemical screening for the 4 solvents methanol, chloroform, water, petroleum etherextracts of C. pulcherrima are given, 2 & 3. The results of the screening of the solvent-extracts (ethanol, methanol, hexane & water) for phytochemicals in C. bonduc were given, 5 & 6. The presence of phenol was observed in the aqueous extract of the C. pulcherrima and the ethanolic extract of the C. bonduc with each concentration in triplets.

Discussion

Conclusion