Phytochemical screening of Achyranthes aspera L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Argemone mexicana L., Portulaca oleracea L. and Euphorbia geniculata Ortega. from Kolhapur district of Maharashtra

Abstract

The phytochemicals present in weeds act as potential source of useful drugs to improve the health status of humans. Phytochemical analysis is the first step towards the discovery of useful drugs. Weeds are the richest resource of drugs and useful for the various biological activity. The present investigation includes the phytochemical screening of some common weed species from the crop fields of Kolhapur district. Phytochemical tests were carried out specially for screening secondary metabolites from the selected weed plants. The phytochemicals like Tannin, Coumarin, Saponin, Proteins, Amino acids, Flavonoids, Cardial Glycosides are present and Carbohydrates, Phlobatannins, Alkaloids are absent in these weeds. So they indicate that these leaves of weed contain a number of medicinally important compounds.