Rajak Neha et al. Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion · Volume 3 (4).

2015

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ISSN 2321 - 6328

Research Article
QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN GARHWAL REGION
Rajak Neha, Mutahir Arisha, Rai Sumit Kumar *
Department of Biotechnology, G.B. Pant Engineering College, Pauri, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

Article Received on: 26/05/15 Accepted on: 17/07/15

DOI: 10.7897/2321-6328.03435

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants remain an important source to combat serious diseases all over the world. They are effective in treatment of various diseases while
simultaneously reducing the side effects like drug resistance, allergy, headache etc. that are often associated with chemotherapeutics. Medicinal plants
do not have such side effects. The potency of chemotherapy lies in the continuous search for new drugs to counter the challenge against resistant strains
of pathogens. The main objective here is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents of medicinal plants which may help in designing new drugs for
human ailments. Eight different plants have been collected from Garhwal region, (Uttarakhand, India) for the investigation of phytochemical
constituents. The study revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, phlobtannins in the plants leaves. Saponins are
specific for having antifungal activity and they are found to be present in some plants sample. Similarly, flavonoids are used against anti-cancerous
activity and terpenoids have antibacterial activity. The presence of different phytochemical constituents in the plants samples confirms their potential
as medicinal plants.

Key words: Drug Resistance, Chemotherapeutics, pathogens, Antibacterial Activity.

INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants are a source of great economic value all over the
world[11].Nature has bestowed on us a very rich botanical wealth
The medicinal plants are useful for curing of human diseases and with a large number of diverse types of plants grown in different
play important role in healing because of the presence of regions of the country[4][19] . The quality of medicinal plants may
phytochemical constituents [10][12].Phytochemicals are bioactive be affected by the number of environmental factors such as
chemicals of plant origin[14]. They are naturally synthesized in climate, altitude, rainfall and other conditions which affect the
different parts of the plant body like, bark, leaves, root , flower growth which in turn affect the quality of ingredients even when
,fruits, seeds etc. i.e. different part of the plant component may they are produced in the same country. These factors produce
contain active components.[2][17] variations in the activity of bioactive compounds.

Prior knowledge of the chemical constituents of plants is Garhwal region is rich in all the three levels of biodiversity
desirable for the discovery of therapeutic agents as well as for namely, species diversity, genetic diversity and habitat diversity.
disclosing new sources of such economic material such as In Pauri Garhwal region several species are known to have
tannins, oil, gums , precursors for the synthesis of complex medicinal plants to cure specific ailments, which has been in
chemical substances.[3][18] vogue since long times. [15]

Table 1: The plants undertaken here for study are

S.No Common Name Scientific Name

1. Basya Eupatorium adenophorum
2. Ban pudina Mentha spiata
3. Bekhal Prinsepiautilis royle
4. Rosemary Rosamarinus officinalis
5. Morpankhi, Thuja orientialis
6. Kundju Artimisia walichiana
7. Neel kanthi Ajugabracteosa Walliach
8. Timur Zanthaoxylum aramatum
9. Kingod Berberis lycium
10. Malu Bauhinia vahlii

The major phytochemical substances taken into consideration in medicinal properties of eight such plants are summarized in table
this work are tannins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, sterols, phenols, 1. Keeping this wide range of properties in mind which plants
saponins, terpenoids, glycosides [16]. Saponins are known to have offer, our approach aimed in the collection, identification,
antifungal activity, flavonoids are used for anti-cancerous activity extraction and phytochemical evaluation of eight such medicinal
[20]
whereas tannin show antimicrobial activity [1][13]. The detailed plants.

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Table 2: Plant Species of Uttarakhand and Their Medicinal Properties

S.No Name of plant species Family Plant part Medicinal use

1. Berberis lycium Royle Berberidaceae Roots Rootstock used as antiseptic, blood purifier in conjunctivitis
and urinogenital disorder.
2. Eupatorium Asteraceae Leaves Leaf paste is applied on cuts and wounds. Paste mixed with
adenophorum mustard oil is useful for ulcer.
3. Mentha spiata Linn Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves used in indigenous vomiting and cough and rub for
muscle and joint pain.
4. Prin sepiautilis Royle Rosaceae Leaves
5. Rosamarinus Lamiaceae Leaves Rosemary is used (applied to the skin) for preventing and
officinalis treating baldness; and treating circulation problems, toothache,
a skin condition called eczema, and joint or muscle pain such
as myalgia, sciatica, and intercostal neuralgia. It is also used
for wound healing,
Ajuga bracteosa Lamiaceae Leaves Leaf powder is given to cure ulcer of mouth and also cure
6.
Walliach diabetes and skin infections.
Artimisia Asteraceae Leaves Leaf paste is useful for skin infection, ring worm and wound.
7.
wallichiana Besser Leaf juice is also used for earache
8. Bauhinia vahlii Caesalpiniaceae Leaves Root paste is used as toothbrush in pyorrhoea.
Thuja Cupressaceae Leaves Leaves applied directly to the skin for joint pain, and muscle
9. orientials pain. Its oil is also used for skin diseases, warts, and cancer;
and as an insect repellent
Zanthaoxylum Rutaceae Leaves Bark and leaves are used for toothache and gum troubles.
10.
aramatum

MATERIAL AND METHODS precipitate appeared at the bottom of the test tube which indicated
Collection of plant materials the presence of reducing sugars.
Benedict’s test: Few drops of Benedict’s reagent was added to 2
The plant species used in this investigation were collected from ml of aqueous extract and then heated on hot plate for few
different regions of Pauri Garhwal during the month of March and minutes. A reddish brown precipitate formed which indicated the
April 2014. Eight medicinal plants were selected for the presence of the carbohydrates.
phytochemical analysis. The plants were taken into consideration
on the basis of the survey from the local people of the same Test for proteins and amino acids:
region. Fresh leaves of following plants Eupatorium Ninhydrin test: 2ml of aqueous extract was heated gently with
adenophorum, Rosamarinus officinalis, Thuja orientials, 2ml of 0.2% solution of ninhydrin reagent. Violet colour appeared
Menthaspiata, Ajuga Bracteosa, Prinsepiautilis royle, Artimisia which indicated the presence of amino acids and proteins.
Wallchiana, Zanthaoxylum araimatum, Berberislycium and
Bauhinia vahlii were collected. Test for tannins
2ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube and few drops of
Preparation of plant powder 0.1% ferric chloride was added. Blue black or brownish green
colour indicates the presence of tannins.
The leaves of the selected plants were taken from the plants. The
leaves were washed under running tap water to remove dust and Test for phenolic compounds
then with distilled water, they were air dried for two weeks at 4ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube and few drops of
room temperature and then crushed into powder and then stored 0.1% ferric chloride was added in it. Dark green colour was
in airtight bottles for further use. observed which indicates the presence of phenolic compounds.

Hot water extraction Test for flavonoids

5ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube and mixed with
20 gm of dried finely powdered plant leaves was taken in a beaker 3ml of 0.1% potassium hydroxide. A dark yellow colour indicates
and 200ml of distilled water was added in it. The beaker the presence of flavonoids.
containing the mixture was heated on a hot plate at 50OC – 60OC
for 20 minutes. The water extract was then filtered through two Test for terpenoids
layer of muslin cloth and then was again filtered with Whatman 5ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube mixed with 2ml
filter paper and the filtrate was used for the further phytochemical chloroform followed by the addition of concentrated sulphuric
analysis. The aqueous extract was kept in refrigerator at 4OC for acid drop-wise. A layer of reddish brown colour was observed at
future use. the interface which indicates the positive result for terpenoids.

QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS Test for steroids

4 ml of Aqueous extract was mixed with 2ml chloroform and
The extract was tested for the presence of the bioactive concentrated sulphuric acid was added carefully dropwise. A red
compounds by the following standard methods: [5][6][7][8] colour in the lower chloroform layer was observed indicated the
presence of steroids.
Test for reducing sugars
Fehling’s test: Fehling A and Fehling B reagents were mixed Test for phlobatannins
together in equal volume and 2ml of it was added to 4 ml of 3ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube and mixed with
aqueous extract and gently heated on hot plate. A brick red 1% aqueous HCl and then boiled on hot plate for few minutes.
Formation of red colour precipitate indicated positive result.

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Test for cardiac glycosides

(keller – kilani test) 2ml of glacial acetic acid containing one drop of ferric chloride was added in 5ml of aqueous extract.1ml
concentrated sulphuric acid was added to it. Brown ring occur at the interface indicates the presence of cardiac glycosides.

Test for saponins

5 ml of aqueous extract was taken in a test tube, shaken vigorously and observed for stable froth for 5 minutes. 3 drops of olive oil was
added in the froth and again shaken vigorously. Formation of emulsion will be observed.

Table 3: Phytochemical Analysis of plants for Secondary metabolites

Plant species

Phlobatanins test
Terpenoids test

Flavonoids test

Glycosides test

Ninhydrin test
Saponins test
Benedict test

Phenolic test
Steroids test

Tannins test
Ajuga bracteosa Fehling test
+ + + + - - + - + + +
Walliach
(Neel kanthi)
Prin sepiautilis + + - + + + + + + - +
(Bekhal)
Artimisia walliachiana - - - - + - + + - - +
(Kundju)
Zanthoxylum aramatum - - + + - + + - + + +
(Timur)
Berberis lyceum - - + + - + - - + + -
(kingod)
Bauhinia vahlii - - + + + - - + + - +
(Malu)
Eupatorium adenophorum - - + + - + + + + + +
(Basya)
Rosmarinus officinalis + + + - + + + - - + -
(Rosemary)
Thuja orientials + + + + + + + + - + -
(Morpankhi)
Mentha spiata - - - + - - + + + + +
(Ban pudina)

RESULT AND DISCUSSION CONCLUSION

The investigation revealed that plant species which were taken The medicinal plants selected are the source of primary
into consideration for phytochemicals constituents contained at metabolites like carbohydrates and proteins and secondary
least one of flavonoids, reducing sugar or carbohydrates, metabolites like terpenoids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids,
terpenoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, steroids glycosides. The secondary metabolites present in these
proteins, amino acids, phlobatannins. Steroids are present in most plants are responsible for anti-cancerous, anti-fungal, anti-viral
of the plants except that for Rosamarinus officinalis and Artimisia activities. The phytochemical studies of these plants are helpful
wallichiana. Terpinoids, reducing sugars and flavonoids are in pharmaceutical industries for treating of ailments and
present in some of the plants but not in all. Glycosides are absent discovering new drugs. Along with medicinal properties
in three plants i.e. Rosamarinus officinalis, and Zanthaoxylum secondary metabolites can also be used for aroma in food
aramatum as shown in Table 3. industry. Phytochemical properties identified by our study can be
utilized in primary phase of drug manufacturing at larger scale for
serving the mankind.

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