PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND GC-MS STUDIES OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TRIDAX PROCUMBENS

Use of plants as a source of medicine has been inherited and is an important component of the health care system in India. Tridax procumbens Linn. (Asteraceae) one of the medicinally important plants commonly found in subtropical countries growing primarily at waste places, roadsides throughout India during the raining season was chromatographically evaluated in the present work for various phytochemicals found in it. The phytochemical tests showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins in methanolic extract of Tridax procumbens (METP). Majorly 25 compounds found in 82.81% peak area were identified through spectrum matching with National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST) database. As per known effects of the observed compounds like octadecanoic acid, 11, 14, 17- Eicosatrienoic acid, methyl ester, 9, 12, 15-Octa-decatrienoic acid, methyl ester (Z,Z,Z,)-, phthalic acid, 6-Methylhept-2-Yl-Tridecyl ester  the T. procumbens reflected some novel therapeutic effects like anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-hair fall, CNS depressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-arthritic, anti-coronary, anti-neoplastic, immunosuppressive, anti-spermatogenic activity. Furthermore, identification and purification of the active compounds responsible for the therapeutic activity may prove the plant of great pharmacological importance.