THE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

The chemical compounds that formed in plants during the normal metabolic process are termed as phytochemicals. The composition of phytochemicals is usually complex in nature and differs among stages of development and plant origin. Phytochemicals used higher plants as warehouse for them which are useful in pharmaceutical industry. Some useful medicinal properties are associated with the different parts of plants that results from the interaction of secondary metabolic products. The basic goal of this study was to determine the presence of different phytochemicals in 04 different medicinal plants (i.e. Smilax china, Tribulus terristris, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Curcuma amada). This analysis was conducted in Karachi for the determination of phytochemical activity of plants. Extracts were taken from 04 different medicinal plants that were bought from local market and were prepared in an aqueous form. We have done the phytochemical screening of 04 different medicinal plants. Results reveal that saponins were only absent in Curcuma amada while in all the other 3 they were present. Reducing sugar was only present in Smilax china and Glycyrrhiza glabra and tannins were in Smilax china, Tribulus terristris and Glycyrrhiza glabra. The results of anthocyanins were only positive in Glycyrrhizaglabra. By our results, we have concluded that the Glycyrrhiza glabra had all 04 targeted phytochemicals (i.e. saponin, reducing sugar, tannins and anthocyanins) while Tribulus terrestris had only saponins and tannins in it. Only saponin, reducing sugar and tannins were present in Smilax china and none of the targeted phytochemical was present in the extract of Curcuma amada.