PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON DELONIX ELATA BARK

Delonix elata bark was collected, authenticated, dried, coarse-finely powdered and extracted using 70% alcohol and subjected for preliminary phytochemical screening. Total phenolic and flavonoidal contents were determined using UV/ visible spectrophotometer. In addition the silica column chromatographic separation was carried out to separate the phytochemicals of D. elata bark extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed positive tests for saponins, flavonoids, tannins and carbohydrates in the alcoholic extract of Delonix elata bark. When the extract was analyzed quantitatively by UV/ visible spectrophotometer, 75 mg/gm of gallic acid equivalent total phenolics and 57.4 mg/gm of rutin equivalent flavonoids were observed.Two phenolic compounds, caffeic acid and apigenin, were isolated and characterized by spectral analysis from the alcoholic extract of the Delonix elata bark. Moreover, HPLC method was employed to analyze the isolated phytoconstituents i.e. caffeic acid and apigenin present in the fraction of alcoholic extract of D. elata bark which showed the similar R_t of separated constituents. The present study reveals the presence of flavonoids in D. elata bark as evidenced by the phytochemical screening, and identification of caffeic acid and apigenin.