Abstract

QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PHYSIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CENTELLA ASIATICA, BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) WETTST, AND MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.

Divya Pathak*, Dr. Mahesh Prasad, Dr. Govindsamy Jeyabalan

ABSTRACT

The indigenous knowledge of various traditional communities regarding plants eventually paved way for organized systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and other systems outside India. Centella asiatica has been mentioned for its benefits related to treatment of asthma, eczema, wound healing, leprosy, ulcers etc. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. is another plant that has gained a lot of prominence due to its ability to improve memory and intelligence. Melissa officinalis L. is a common herb that is mostly used for imparting fragrance to food products and beverages. Apart from industrial applications, this plant has also been used in traditional medicine for treating headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatism etc. Physicochemical parameters such as foreign matter, extractive values, ash content, pH of whole three medicinal plants were done by using WHO recommended parameters. A preliminary phytochemical screening was done and revealed the presence of different phytoconstituents like carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, sterols, alkaloids, proteins, saponins, anthraquinones, amino acid, phenols, terpenoids and reducing sugar. The pharmacognostic studies of Centella asiatica, Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst, Melissa officinalis L. and will serve as valuable source of information towards establishing pharmacognostic standards on identification, purity, quality and classification.

Keywords: Brahmi, Lemon balm, Physicochemical, cardiotonic, nerve tonic.