Preliminary phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants of polyherbal formulation

Abstract

Dengue and Chikungunya is, at its core, a global disease and pose real increase in mortality. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of phytochemical constituents in selected medicinal plants, which is used as a polyherbal siddha medicine for treating viral fevers like Dengue and Chikungunya. The plant extracts were prepared using five different solvents like hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and aqueous (70% ethanol) extracts. Each plant was sequentially analyzed to adjudge the major active principles present in the solvent extracts by performing preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening. The results of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols and carbohydrates in all the extracts. Saponins, phlobatannins, anthraquinones, quinones were not found in any of the extracts. Flavonoids were present only in the extracts eluted with polar solvents. Alkaloids were absent in all the extracts. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of active constituents which has antioxidant, antiviral and many therapeutic properties which is necessary for the pharmacological value in rational antiviral drug design.