PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ROOT OF HELIOTROPIUM INDICUM LINN.
AbstractThe root of Heliotropium indicum is reported to have good medicinal values in traditional system of medicines. Commonly called as Indian Turnsole, is a herb with slightly woody at base. It is distributed in the tropical and temperate regions of the world and found throughout India The present study deals with phytochemical investigations of Heliotropium indicum root including determination of loss on drying(3.8%), Ash values{total ash(6.3%), acid insoluble ash(3.5%), water soluble ash(3.2), sulphated ash(6%)} and extractive values{water soluble extractive(21%), alcohol soluble extractive(2%), benzene soluble extractive(1.5%), Petroleum Ether soluble Extractive(2.1%)}. The preliminary phytochemical screening of powdered drug was also carried out. The qualitative chemical examinations revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, carbohydrates, phytosterols, tannins and saponin in the root extracts through the chromatographic separation technique i.e. TLC . These observations therefore support the use of Heliotropium indicum in herbal cure remedies. Alkaloids which are one of the largest groups of phytochemicals in plants have amazing effects on humans and this has led to the development of powerful pain killer medications revealed the inhibitory effect of saponins on inflamed cells. Saponin was found to be present in Heliotropium indicum extracts and has supported the usefulness of this plant in managing inflammation.
Article Information
36
1569-1571
493
1167
English
Ijpsr
Mukesh Kumar Sharma and Amit Alexander*
Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
19 March, 2011
18 May, 2011
21 May, 2011
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.2(6).1569-71
01 June, 2011