Preliminary phytochemical screening of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees: A medicinal plant

Abstract

The traditional medicine involves the use of different plant extracts or the bioactive constituents. Study of ethnomedicine represents one of the best avenues in searching new economic plants for medicine. In keeping this view in mind, the present study was aimed at phytochemical screening of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees – A medicinal plant. The results showed that many bioactive compounds are present in the flowers and leaves of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees mainly tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, steroids and terpenoids. Both dry flower extracts and matured leaf extracts showed equal response for presence of tannins and saponins. Based on the intensity of colour, dry flower extracts were found to contain higher amount of steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenol than the dry leaf extract. The curative properties of this plant may depend mainly on these phytochemicals.