PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON THE EXTRACT OF SCOPARIA DULCIS LINN. LEAVES

The plant Scoparia dulcis Linn. belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae, is a native of tropical America, commonly called a sweet broom. The traditional healers identified its uses as anti-diabetic, antipyretic, antihypertensive, diuretic, and they have developed many promising traditional medicines and formulations from this plant. The main objective of this present study reveals about the phytoconstituents present in the leaves extract by preliminary phytochemical study, isolation of active compounds by column chromatography, and characterize the isolated compound by spectral studies like UV, IR, NMR, and MASS spectra. The preliminary phytochemical study reveals that the plant possesses more phytochemicals such as carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, and amino acids. The quantitative estimation shows that it consist of a considerable quantity of flavonoids, Phenols, Vitamin C. The methanol extract was prepared and applied in column chromatography to isolate the phytoconstituents. A dull white crystalline compound was isolated in the fraction of Acetone: Ethanol  (60:40), (40:60) ratio. This compound was subjected to spectral studies. The spectral studies indicate the presence of –OH, C=O, and C-H groups from the NMR signal. It shows the presence of methyl proton and α –CH₂ proton. Based on the spectral studies, the chemical nature of the isolated compound may be a heptadeconic acid with the molecular formula CH₃-(CH₂)₁₅-COOH. Future studies also can go for further identification of new compounds and their medicinal values.