Abstract

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF QUERCUS INFECTORIA GALLS

Fateh AL Rahman F. Magbool*, Elamin Ibrahim Elnima, Shayoub M. E. and Salah Eldin Omar Hussein

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Medicinal plants are a rich source of producing wide number of chemical constituents, the beneficial medicinal effects of the medicinal plant materials typically result from the combinations of secondary products present in the plant making the medicinal actions of plants unique to particular plant species or groups. Recently, many plant extracts have shown to have therapeutic values indifferent disease conditions. Quercus infectoria is a small tree or a shrub belonging to the Fagaceae (Quercaceae) family. The Gall of Quercus infectoria is described in detail in ethnobotanical and literature to possess various pharmacological actions such as analgesic, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, antiseptic, antistomatitis, deodorant, derivative, desiccant, expectorant, germicidal, hypnotic, hypoglycaemic, powerful astringent, sedative, local anesthetic, antiviral, antibacterial, larvicidal and antifungal activities. The main constituents found in the galls of Q. infectoria are tannin (50-70%) and small amount of free gallic acid and ellagic acid. Methods: Ethanolic extract prepared from Quercus Infectoria Galls as well as the bioactive compounds screened from these crude extracts. Results and Discussion: An evaluation on the phytochemical screening of Galls of QI extracts revealed the presence of medicinally active constituents, in these screening process tannins, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, anthraquinones and cumarines gave positive results, while sterols and alkaloids gave negative results. The various phytochemical compounds detected are known to have beneficial importance in industrial and medicinal sciences. The galls of the Quercus infectoria (QI) tree are traditionally believed to have great medicinal value. The galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in treatment of hemorrhages, chronic diarrhea, dysentery etc. Tannins mainly contribute to the anti-microbial activities of the drug. Conclusion: This study thus provides a useful database of the therapeutic bioactivity of Quercus Infectoria Galls, Thus effort must be making for isolation, standardization and clinical evaluation of such phytochemicals in order to obtain lead compounds for further new drug discovery.

Keywords: Quercus Infectoria Galls, phytochemicals, ethno botanical, bioactivity, Phytotherapy.