QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITAIVE ESTIMATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN SKIMMIA ANQUETILIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DIFFERENT PARTS

Abstract

Skimmia anquetilia is an evergreen aromatic shrub having potent medicinal importance. Although a few studies have been carried out on phytochemistry of Skimmia anquetilia but not much attention has been paid to the variation of phytochemical content in different parts of the plant. Therefore, the present work has been designed to evaluate the variation of phytochemical constituents in different parts (leaves, stem, root and fruits), so that full pharmacological potential of the plant could be exploited. The Soxhlet extraction of different parts of S. anquetilia was done and the extracts (hydro-alcholic) were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative estimation of various phytochemicals. The qualitative screening revealed the presence of amazing phytochemicals viz., phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins. The quantitative estimation of phytochemicals depicted a significant variation among different parts and leaves are considered to possess highest quantity of phytochemicals. These phytochemicals could serve as major source for pharmaceutical products, so the plant species could hold an immense potential to serve as therapy for various chronic diseases.