Abstract

Deshpande S. N.*

ABSTRACT

Plants are rich in phytochemicals. These play active role in the treatment of diseases. Though chemotherapeutic drugs are used to treat diseases they have side effects and develop resistance, hence there is need of alternative medicine. The present study was therefore undertaken to screen some medicinal plants for phytochemical constituents by simple chemical qualitative tests. For this ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts of leaves of Abrus precatorius L., Psidium guajava L. Piper betle L., Azadirechta indica L.and stem bark of Acacia nilotica L.were prepared by Soxhlet method. The study revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phytosterols and tannins in all selected plants extracts. However amino acids were absent in all selected plants extracts. Saponins and cardiac glycosides were found in all selected plants extracts except ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extract of Abrus precatorius L. Flavonoids and anthraquinones were found only in Acacia nilotica L.Fixed oils and fats were present in only Psidium guajava L however,proteins in Psidium guajava L. and Acacia nilotica L.Presence of various phytochemicals in the plants selected for study is suggestive of their medicinal use in folk medicine.