Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF BIOPHYTUM SENSITIVUM DC (OXALIDACEAE)

Shibila T, Johnson M*, Revathy I, Narayani M, Utchimahali M

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to explore the phytoprofile of the medicinally important plant Biophytum sensitivum DC (Oxalidaceae). The powder of Biophytum sensitivum (10g) was sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus for 8 h. For aqueous extracts the dried powder were boiled with water for 24 h continuously. To identify the secondary metabolites preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of B. sensitivum leaves extracts was carried out. To reveal the lignin, tannin, phenols and poly phenols occurrence in B. sensitivum various parts, the histochmeical studies were carried out. To explore the phytoprofile of various extracts of B. sensitivum fluorescence, UV-Vis and FT-IR wereanalysed. The weight percentage of major and minor elements present in the samples was carried out using the OXFORD INCA Energy Dispensive X-ray Spectrometer. Histochemical studies revealed the high degree of tannin, lignin and polyphenol occurence in root and stem epidermis and vascular bundles of B. sensitivum. The result of UV-Vis and FT-IR analysis confirmed the active constituents presence in B. sensitivum. A total of ten elements viz., carbon, oxygen, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium and ferrous were observed in the powdered sample of B. sensitivum. These spectroscopic profiles will act as pharmacognostic marker to distinguish the medicinally important B. sensitivum from its adulterants using relatively simple, cost-effective spectroscopic profile in the pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords: Phytochemistry; Biomarker; Macro and Micro elements.