Phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis of Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn. An endangered medicinal plant

Abstract

The present paper reports the phytochemical and GC-MS analysis studies of an endemic endangered, climbing shrub. Decalepis hamiltonii. D. hamiltonii which belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae is a perennial slow growing medicinal shrub commonly called as “Maredu kommulu, Nannari kommulu”. It is generally considered as a tubers root food mostly in the southern part of India. There is a growing demand for roots of D. hamiltonii in the pharmaceutical trade due to its use as a anti-inflammatory, degenerative diseases including atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, ageing, diabetes mellitus, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and others. In the present study the qualitative and analysis confirmed the presence of various phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids and terpenoids. Quantitative estimation of flavonoids and phenols was also carried out and further analysis of the components present in it by GC-MS analysis. The roots were sequentially extracted by methanol. The extract showed the presence of all phytoconstituents studied. The GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract revealed the presence of ten major compounds. This study forms a basis for the biological characterization and importance of the compounds identified.