Abstract

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF PLANT SPECIES FROM NORTHERN INDIA

*Javid Iqbal Pandith

Department of Botany, Govt. College, Baramulla, India.

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants constitute an effective source of both traditional and modern medicines, herbal medicine has been shown to have genuine utility and about 80% of rural population depends on it as primary health care. In the recent past, there has been growing interest in exploiting the biological activities of different ayurvedic medicinal herbs, owing to their natural origin, cost effectiveness and lesser side effects. In the present study the different plant species of known pharmaceutical value viz: Withania somnifera, Pongamia glabra, Amaranthus spinosus, Lantana indica, Solanum nigrum and Calotropis procera were taken for studying the presence of active principles like Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Phenols, Flavonoids, Anthraquinones, Terpenoids and Steroids etc for their application in modern system of medicines. Results obtained revealed the maximum number of phytocompounds were present in the ethanolic solvent extract of Withania somnifera namely Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Phenols, Flavonoids, Anthraquinones and Terpenoids and Acetonic extract of Calotropis procera viz: Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Phenols, Flavonoids, Terpenoids and Steroids respectively. However the minimum numbers of phytocompounds were found to be present in the Acetonic extract of Pongamia glabra and Amaranthus spinosus which represents the presence of only Alkaloids, Tannins, Glycosides, Terpenoids, Steroids and Alkaloids, Saponins, Glycosides, Anthraquinones and Terpenoids respectively. It can be concluded that the active principles of the leafy compounds are mainly present in the ethanolic extract.

Keywords: Phytocompounds, Active principles, Ethanol and Acetone.