Abstract
The humans have used medicinal plants for healthcare since the time immemorial. The systematic phytochemical analysis of traditionally used medicinal plants is needed to establish their use as medicine. Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa have been used in India and China to treat various health related disorders. Therefore it was decided to undertake phytochemical and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) profiling of different extracts of Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa using standard procedures. The dried powder of stem bark of Oroxylum indicum and root bark of Milletia pachycarpa was sequentially extracted in chloroform, ethanol and water. The dried extract of each plant was phytochemically analyzed for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phytosterols, saponins, tannins steroids and phlobatannins. Each extract from both plants was processed for TLC profiling on silica gel using various solvent combinations as mobile phase. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids in chloroform and ethanol extracts, whereas alkaloids were absent in aqueous extract of both Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa. The flavonoids were observed in all extracts of both plants. However, cardiac glycosides were absent in the aqueous extract of Milletia pachycarpa. The saponins were detected in all the extracts of both plants except the chloroform extract of Oroxylum indicum. The tannins could not be detected in the aqueous extract of M. pachycarpa. The phlobatannins were absent in all extracts of both plants. Steroids were present in the ethanol extract of both plants. The TLC profiling confirmed the presence of different phytochemicals as evidenced by different Rf values. The present study indicates that the properties of both O. indicum and M. pachycarpa may be due to presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and phytosterols.
Highlights
The plants usually synthesize many chemicals, which are either product of metabolism or intentionally for nutrition, defence, pollination and against stress and predators [1]
The chloroform and ethanol extracts of O. indicum and M. pachycarpa showed the presence of alkaloids, whereas alkaloids were not detected in their aqueous extract (Table 1)
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the phytochemical constituents of O. indicum and M. pachycarpa that are used as a traditional medicine in India and China.Out of several phytochemicals synthesized by plants alkaloids are essential for plant defense against stimulation, protection, flavouring, pigmentation, microbe infection, insects and herbivory [30,31]
Summary
The plants usually synthesize many chemicals, which are either product of metabolism or intentionally for nutrition, defence, pollination and against stress and predators [1]. The phytochemicals synthesized by plants can be mainly grouped into primary and secondary metabolites [2]. The metabolism of primary metabolites generates secondary metabolites, which are not involved in any of the metabolic activity of plants [2] The properties of these phytochemicals have been under investigation since the 1850s and they have been used as dyes, polymers, fibers, glues, oils, waxes, flavoring agents, perfumes, and even as drugs [4]. M. pachycarpa has been found to have a significant cytotoxic effect in Brine shrimp assay [11] and is known to have anti-inflammatory activity [12] It is used as fish poison, pesticide, blood tonic and in the treatment of cancer and infertility traditionally in India and China [11,13,14]. In India, it is distributed in the Himalayan foothills, Eastern and Western Ghats and North East India [16] O. indicum lives in relationship with an actinomycete Pseudonocardia oroxyli, a gram positive bacterium [17] that has the capacity to produce many secondary metabolites
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