CHAPTER-9

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING
 CHAPTER 9

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING

9.1. INTRODUCTION:

Medicinal plants and human beings have unique relationship since time
immemorial. Man's vital interest in plants, primarily as a source of food, shelter and
clothing, dates back to the very origin of human civilization. Plants are nature's "Chemical
factories" providing the richest source of organic chemicals on earth. The world is blessed
with a great variety of natural vegetations, some of which are used as traditional medicine
to cure various sicknesses and diseases (Egwaikhide et al, 2007, Okeniyi et al, 2007),
some are also useful as flavoring agents, while others act as food additives and
preservatives (Adetuyi et al., 2004, Popoola, et ai, 1994, Okwu, 1999, 2001). In addition,
some plants have been used in the manufacture of adhesives, textiles, dyes, paints, plastic
and rubber industries (Taylor et al., 1962, Adetuyi et al., 2004). But, considering richness
of the plant world, the knowledge of plants acquired by man is still insufficient. The
number of species about which men have reasonably detailed knowledge is probably less
than one percent (Shivarajan, 1991). Therefore, systematic exploration of plant wealth in
conjunction with ethnobotanical data is needed so that assessment of the plant genetic
resources of any area and the importance of ethnobotany can be appreciated and
documented (Schultes, 1956; Faulks, 1958; Krauss, 1974; Jain 1981; Barrua, 1983; Prance,
1991; Arora, 1997).
Ethnobotany deals with the studies among the tribals and rural people for recording
their unique knowledge about the plant wealth and for the search of new resources of
herbal drugs used by the aborigines. World Health Organization (WHO, 1976) describes a
medicinal plant as any plant in which one or more of its organs contains substances that
can be used for therapeutic purposes or which are precursors for the synthesis of useful
drugs. Many of our official drugs have come through the research work of the botanists,
chemists and ethnobotanists. Since botanists specialize in gathering knowledge of plants.

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consequently they form a bridge between the natives and plants, eventually utilization of
plants are possible when a chemist acts as a bridge between the botanists and the users.
Modem drugs have saved many lives and have prolonged life span of many
patients during the last few decades. But the use of modern drugs is like using of double-
edged weapon resulting in a variety of physical and drug-induced diseases. The synthetic
drugs being pure synthetic chemicals, may induce cellular changes, act as foreign
substance to the body system and cause several side or toxic effect resulting in ulcer,
allergy, haemorrhage and even may cause death. To get relief from such tragedies of the
use of modem drugs, modem medical scientists think of better altematives and the use of
medicines made from traditional and folklore drugs of plant origin is found to be the best
aitemative. Therefore, renovation of old ideas of herbal medicine with modem techniques
and technologies is the need of the day and therefore, ethnomedicobotanical investigations
have emerged as a promising branch for research. An analysis of modem medicine reveals
that approximately one fourth of all the medicines now in use are derived from some 2500
flowering plants (Dutta Choudhury, 1999). The main objectives of using plants as
therapeutic agent are:
a) To isolate various compounds from plants as dmg.
b) To produce bioactive compounds of novel stmctures as lead compounds for semi-
synthetics to produce patentable entities of higher positive bioactivity and low toxicity.
c) To use whole plant or part of it as herbal remedy.
Biologically active compounds from natural sources have always been in great
interest for scientists working on infectious diseases (Burkill, 2000; Roja et al, 2000,
Sofowora 1982 and Pemmal and Ignacimuthu, 2000). As a matter of fact, it has been
estimated that today about 25% of all prescribed medicines are substances derived from
plants (Egwaikhide and Gimba 2007; Zheng and Wang 2001). The use of traditional
medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the
maintenance of good health, has been widely observed (UNESCO, 1996; Rojas et al.,
1992). Furthermore, increasing reliance on the medicinal plants in the industrialized
countries has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs and
chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used mral herbal
remedies (UNESCO, 1998).
Historically, plants have provided a source of inspiration for novel dmg
compounds, as plant-derived medicines have made large contributions to human health and
well being. Traditional medicines, using plant extracts continues to provide health

336
coverage for over 80% of the world's population, especially in the developing world
(WHO, 2002). The role of plants is of two fold in the development of new drugs:
a) They may become the base for the development of medicine, a natural blue print for the
development of new drugs.
b) A phytomedicine to be used for the treatment of diseases (Iwu, 1993).
World plant biodiversity is the largest source of herbal medicines which are being used
since the ancient ages in traditional health care system. Medicinal plants contain
physiologically active principles that over the years have been exploited in traditional
medicine for the treatment of various ailments (Adebajo et ai, 1983). The drugs contained
in medicinal plants are known as active principles. Cowmann, (1999) and Banso and
Olutimayin (2001) reported that plants contain a wide variety of active principles. There is
a reasonable likelihood that medicinal plants with a long history of human use will
ultimately yield novel drug prototypes (Eshrat and Hussain, 2002). The medicinal value of
these plants lies in the bioactive phytochemical constituents that produce definite
physiological effects on human body. These natural compounds formed the base of
modem drugs that we use today (Edeoga et al., 2005; Akinmo-laudn et al., 2007; Rout et
a/,2009).
Phytoconstituents are the natural bioactive compounds found in plants and
phytochemistry is a distinct discipline somewhere in between organic chemistry, plant
biochemistry and closely related to natural products. It deals with a variety of organic
substances accumulated in plants. The plants may be considered as a biosynthetic
laboratory. Not only their chemical compounds such as carbohydrates, protein, and lipids
that are used as food by men, but also a multitude of compounds like glycosides, alkaloids,
flavonoids, etc. are used as medicines by man in various ways and means. According to
their functions in plant metabolism, phytochemicals are basically divided into two groups,
i.e.
i) Primary constituents: It comprises of common sugars, amino acid, proteins and
chlorophyll.
ii) Secondary constituents: It comprises of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, phenolic
compounds, flavonoids, tannins and so on.
The chemical compounds formed during the normal metabolic processes of plants are
often referred to as "secondary metabolites". However the presence of the secondary
metabolites in plants probably explains the various uses of plants for traditional medicine.
The qualitative and quantitative estimation of the phytochemical constituents of a

337
medicinal plant is considered to be an important step in medicinal plant research (Kokate,
1994).
Chemical investigations of more than 285 wild indigenous medicinal plants show
unknown compounds with promising biological activity. In the 1990s, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) of the U.S.A. recognized that the leaf extract of Aneistrocladus korupensis
has "Michellamine-B" which was obtained from the indigenous people of the Cameroon
forest in South Africa had the capacity to inhibit the HIV (AIDS) virus (Trivedi, 2002).
Ayurvedic and other traditional systems of preparation of drugs is solely depends
on wild plants. It has been reported that globally only about 2% of the 300,000 species of
flowering plants have been screened for alkaloids and over 1000 have so far produced
alkaloids of great importance (Ayensu, 1983). Recently it has been noticed that the
manufacturers of Indian medicines and pharmaceutical companies are finding it extremely
difficult to obtain raw materials, mainly due to the destruction of the forest (Shrivastava et
al., 1999). Therefore the proper knowledge of utilization and preservation of plants should
be given due importance to protect the beneficial plants diversity.
Of the 252 essential chemicals which have been selected by the World Health
Organisafion (WHO), 11.1% come from plants and 8.7%fi-omanimals (Costa Neto, 1999).
Therefore, it is very much essential to give attention on the living ethnomedicinal
traditions.
The tribal people have acquired unique knowledge about the sustainable use of
wild diversity. But now, when their survival is challenged for modernization and
industrialization, large population of them have been uprooted fi-om. their natural
homeland, cultures and traditions and so much of this wealth of knowledge is becoming
increasingly lost as the traditional culture is gradually disappearing. Therefore,
inventorisation and study of new herbal drugs is the noblest profession deserving attention
of humanity through direct service to human being. Ethno-Medico-Botanical study
provides meaningful way for such contribution to human society at large.
Most of the plants are eaten or used for their rich phytochemical constituents,
which provide both preventive and curative properties to consumers against diseases most
of which have had an age long existence. Scientists have great interest in ^he field of
research of biologically active natural compounds for new sources of drugs, useful in
controlling diseases. In India, concentrated effort in this regard has been taken up by the
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Several research works have been carried
out to trace various plant chemical constituents in India and abroad (Tackie et al., 1874;

338
Kapoor et al, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975; Hartly, 1973; Saxena, 1975; Behari & Andiwal,
1976; Sultanbawa et al, 1978; Shen, 1981; George et al, 1985; Rao et al, 1985; Chawla
et al, 1987; Koul et al, 1989; Cox, 1990, 1994; Haller, 1990; Davyt et al, 1991;
Sofowora, 1993; Mitra et ij/.,1995; Suresh et al 1995; Narayana et al, 1999; Tanashashi et
al, 2000; Chen et al, 2001; Uko and Kamalu, 2001; Zhang et al, 2001, 2004; Allameh et
al, 2002; Lale, 2002; Mossini et al, 2004; Edeoga et al, 2005; Prohp et al, 2006, 2008;
Shah et al 2006; Tanko et al, 2007; Choudhury et al, 2008; Ogbuewu, 2008; Prohp and
Onoagbe 2009a, b; Prohp et al, 2011; Prohp and Onoagbe 2012).
Phytochemicals are present in different parts of plants which are utilized as important
components of both human and animal diets. These include fruits, seeds, herbs and
vegetables (Okwu, 2005). Diets containing an abundance of fruits and vegetables are
protective against a variety of diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (Okogun,
1985). Herbs and spices are accessible sources for obtaining natural antioxidants (Okwu,
2004). In addition to these substances, plants contain other chemical compounds. These
can act as agents to prevent undesirable side effects of the main active substances or to
assist in the assimilation of the main substances (Anonymous, 2007a). There are several
standard methods used for the phytochemical screening of medicinal plants. They are
described for alkaloids (Shellard, 1957; Harbome, 1973), steroids (Schmidt 1964; Claus
1967; Trease and Evans, 1989), phenolics (Ayve and Sodipo, 2001), flavonoids (Malbry et
al, 1970; Awe and Sodipo, 2001), saponins (Hungund & Pathak 1971; Sofowora, 1993),
cardiac glycosides (Balbaa et al, 1981; Sofowora, 1993), tannins (Trease and Evans, 1978;
Odebiyi and Sofowora, 1978). Methods for quantitative analysis of phytochemicals are
also described for phenolics (Edeoga et al, 2005), flavonoids (Boham and Kocipal-
Abyazan, 1974), alkaloids (Harbome, 1973), saponins (Obadoni and Ochuko, 2001) and
glycosides (El-Olemy et al, 1994).
In Barak Valley some remarkable works in the field of phytochemical screening are
conducted, such as: Phytochemical screening and TLC profoling of plant extracts of
Cyathea gigantean (Wall, ex Hook.) Halt, and Cyathea brunoniana Wall.ex.Hook. (CI. &
Back.) has been analyzed by Das et al (2010); TLC profiling of Lasianthus lucidus
Blume. has been analysed by Dutta Choudhury & Dutta Choudhury (2011) to isolate
glycosides, flavinoids, saponins and alkaloids; while chemical investigations of three
species of Lasianthus were conducted in the past viz., Lasianthus fordii Hance. by Takeda
et al (2003); Lasianthus gardneri (Thw.) Hook, by Sabrina et al in 2004 Dutta
Choudhury & Dutta Choudhiuy (2011); Lasianthus acuminatissimus Merr. by Briggs et al

339
(2006); Mazumder et al. (2010) have reported in vitro propagation and phytochemical
screening of Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Schltr.; Neurotoxic and medicinal properties of
Datura stramonium L. was analysed by Devi et al. (2011) to isolate 48 alkaloids and two
new tropane alkaloids, 3-phenylacetoxy-6, 7-epoxynortropane and 7-hydroxyapoatropine
were also identified; Phytochemistry of the family Bignoniaceae-a review was repoted by
Choudhury et al.(20\ 1); Das Talukdar et al. (2011) had reported a review on Pteridophyte
antioxidants and their potential role in discovery of new drugs; Devi & Paul (2011)
reported an over view on Cicca acida (Phyllanthus acidus) and isolated Phyllanthusols A
and B, Aglycon and Saccharide from the root extract.
Phytochemical progress has been aided enormously by the development of rapid
and accurate methods of screening of plants for particular chemicals (Banso and Adeyemo,
2007). These phytoconstituents work with nutrients and fibers form an integrated part of
defense system against various diseases and stress conditions and therefore most of these
constituents are potent bioactive compounds which are precursors for the synthesis of
usefial drugs (Sofowora, 1993).
If the ethnobotanical informations are not processed in the laboratory clinically,
any investigation on folklore medicine leading to the discovery of new drugs remains
incomplete. Considering the above facts, an attempt has been made for the qualitative
screening of phytochemical constituents of five medicinal plants used by the Dimasa tribe
of Barak Valley (South Assam), India, to cure various ailments. The screening has been
done to trace presence or absence of few constituents viz., carbohydrate, saponin, tannin,
flavonoid and alkaloid in various plants under study and the result has been presented in
the tabular form.

9.2 METHODOLOGY:

Collection, Processing and Preservation of plant materials:

Based on the ethnomedical significance, 5 plant species were collected from the
study site (between latitude 24°8'N to 25°8'N and longitude 92°15'E to 93°15'E) through
direct interaction with different medicine men of Dimasa tribe of Barak Valley. Then the
collected plant materials were identified taxonomically. The voucher specimens were
deposited in the herbarium of Ecology & Enviromental Science Department of Assam
University, Silchar. The parts of the plants which were selected for phytochemical analysis
were properly washed with tap water and then rinsed in distilled water. The rinsed parts

340
were air dried under shade. The dried parts of each plant were crushed to obtain powder
and stored in air tight container protected from sunlight until use. Name of the plant
species, family, date of collection, locality, conditions of the plant parts used and parts
used for investigation are given below in the tabular form (Table: 62).

Table: 62. Details of the plant species consider for preliminary phytochemical
analysis
Date of Place of Condition Parts
Name of plant species with collection collection of plant used
family material
Chrysopogon aciculatus 05-07-10 Thaligram, Fresh Under
(Ritz.) Trin. Cachar ground
(Poaceae) portion.
Entada pursaetha DC. var. 12-02-10 Dharamnagar, Fresh Seed
sinohimalensis Grierson & Cachar kernel
Long (Mimosaceae)
Polygonum hydropiper L. 05-05-10 Gorer-vitor, Fresh Whole
(Polygonaceae) Cachar plant
Sarcococca pruniformis 14-04-10 Naya-gram, Fresh Leaves
Lind. Cachar
(Buxaceae)
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) 22-02-10 Bilaipur, Fresh Stem
Hook.f. & Thomson Hailakandi
(Meni spermaceae)

Preparation of plant extract:

The phytochemical components of the plant extracts were screened by using
standard procedures as described by Harbome 1998, Sofowora 1993, Brindha et al. 1977
and Trease and Evans 1989. The 50 g of the air-dried powdered samples of each of the
plant parts were percolated in 200ml each of 95% ethyl alcohol, petroleum ether and tolune
separately for 3 days with occasional shaking. The extracts were then filtered using
Whatman no. 1 filter paper. The organic solvent filtrates were concentrated in vacuum
using a rotary evaporator, and the aqueous extracts were dried using water bath to obtain
crude extracts. They were collected and stored for further analysis.
Preparation of testing reagents:
1. Mayer's reagent: This reagent was prepared as described by Kapoor et al., 1969. 5g of
KI was dissolved in 10ml of water and 1.35g of HgCh was dissolved in 60ml of water.
Then both the solutions were mixed together and water was added to make the solution to
100ml.

341
2. Hager's reagent (Picric acid): Ig of picric acid was dissolve in 100ml of water to
prepare Hager's reagent.
3. Wagner's reagent (lodo-potasium iodide): 2g of iodine and 6g of KI was dissolved in
100ml of water.
4. Molisch's reagent (a-NaphthoI): 15g of a-naphthol was dissolved in 100ml of alcohol.
5. Fehling solution:
a) Fehling's solution A (Copper sulfate solution): 3.46g of CUSO4. 5H2O was dissolved
in 50ml of distilled water.
b) Fehling's solution B (Alkaline tartrate solution): 17.3g of potassium sodium
tartrate (Rochelle salts, KNaC4H406. 4H2O) and 5g of NaOH were dissolved in 50
ml of distilled water.
Testing of extract for detection phytochemical constituents:
Methods for preliminary qualitative phytochemical tests of the plant extracts are given
below in the tabular form (table: 63).

Table: 63. Protocol for qualitative phytochemical analysis.

Tests Methods Expected Inferences
observations
Alkaloids 2ml of filtrate in three Mayer's Alkaloids
different test tubes were reagent: present
taken and few drops of Cream
dil. HCl was added in precipitation.
each of the tube, then Hager's Alkaloids
Mayer's, Hager's and reagent: present
Wagner's reagent were Yellow
added. precipitation.
Wagner's Alkaloids
reagent: present
Reddish-
brown
colour.
Carbohydrates Molish test: 2ml of Violet or Carbohydrates
filtrate+2 drops of reddish present
Molish reagent +few colour
drops of cone. H2S04.
Fehling's solution: 2ml Brick red Carbohydrates
of filtrate+5-8 drops of precipitation present
Fehling's solution and colour
then heated on water
bath for half an hour
Flavonoids 2ml of filtrate+few Magneta or Flavonoids
drops of cone. HCl and pink red present

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 magnesium turnings colour
were added
Saponins 2mloffiltrate+4mlof Foam Saponins
dist. H2O were mixed formation present
well and shaken
vigorously or
2ml of the filtrate+ 1ml Black green Saponns present
ammonia solutions-1ml precipitation
lead acetate were mixed or deep
and shaken vigorously green foam
Tanins 2mloffiltrate+10ml Blue colour Tanins present
dist. H20+a drop of
FeCh or
2mlofthefiltrate+lml Green -black Tanins present
5% FeCla colour

9.4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Phytochemical analysis conducted on the plant extracts revealed the presence of

constituents which are known to exhibit medicinal as well as physiological activities
(Sofowra, 1993). Analysis of the plant extracts revealed the presence of phytochemicals
such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and alkaloids (Table: 64).
The results of phytochemical analysis of the selected plant species revealed the
presence of carbohydrates, saponins and alkaloids in the underground portion of
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.; carbohydrates, tannins, saponins and alkaloids
presents in the seed kernel of Entada pursaetha DC. var. sinohimalensis Grierson & Long;
the whole plant of Polygonum hydropiper L. contains carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoids
and alkaloids; while the stem of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f & Thomson
contains only carbohydrates and alkaloid and the leaves of Sarcococca pruniformis Lindl.
contains carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids (Fig: 34). These compounds are
known to be biologically active and exert antimicrobial activity through different
mechanisms.

343
 Table: 64. Results of phytochemical analysis of the five selected medicinal
plants

Name of Parts Secondary metabolites

plants used
Carbohydrates Saponins Tannins Flavonoid Alkaloids
s
Chrysopogon Under +ve +ve -ve -ve H-ve
aciculatus ground
(Retz.) Trin. portion
En tada Seed +ve +ve +ve -ve -i-ve
pursaetha DC. kernel
var.
Sinohimalensis
Grierson &Long
Polygonum Whole +ve +ve -ve -l-ve +ve
hydropiper L. plant

Sarcococca +ve +ve -ve H-ve -Hve

pruniformis
Lindi.
Tinospora Stem +ve -ve -ve -ve 4-ve
cordifolia
(Willd.) Hook.f.
& Thomson

4
c
3.5
£
Q. 3 ESS
(0
*^
C 2.5
a
+;
in 2
c
o
o 1.5
o
Q.
•*-
O
1

6 0.5

n
C. aciculatus E. pursaetha p. hydropiper S. pruniformis T.cardifolia

Name of plants

Fig: 34. Number of phytochemical constituents present in the selected

plant species

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 Tannins are phenolic compounds and so the level obtained quantitatively in this study
may have been contributed by phenols. The phenolic compounds are one of the largest
and most ubiquitous groups of plant metabolites (Singh et al., 2007). They possess
biological properties such as antiapoptosis, antiaging, anticarcinogen, antiinflammation,
antiatherosclerosis, cardiovascular protection and improvement of endothelial ftinction, as
well as inhibition of angiogenesis and cell proliferation activities (Han et al., 2007).
Several studies have described the antioxidant properties of medicinal plants which are
rich in phenolic compounds (Brown & Rice-Evans, 1998; Krings & Berger, 2001).
Natural antioxidants mainly come from plants in the form of phenolic compounds such as
flavonoid, phenolic acids, tocopherols etc. (Ali et al., 2008). Tannins are usually found in
large quantity in the bark of trees where they play a major protective role in the plant's
defense against bacteria, ftmgi and insects (http://www.herbs2000.eom/h
menu/tannins.htm). Iwu, (1980 and 1983) have also reported that tannin containing drugs
have been shown to posses anti - diabetic properties. Tannins have been found to inhabit
the cell protein synthesis and form irreversible complexes with proline rich protein
(Shimada, 2006) resulting in the inhibition of cell protein synthesis. Parekh and Chanda
(2007a) reported that tannins are known to react with proteins to provide a protein
complex which may have importance in the treatment inflamed or ulcerated tissues or
cancer. Plants that have tannins as their main components are astringent in nature and are
used for treating intestinal disorders such as diarrhoea and dysentery (Dharmananda,
2003). So the intake of antioxidant phytochemicals like phenolic compounds and
flavonoids will lead to the protection against non-communicable diseases in human beings
like cancer, cardiovascular diseases and cataract (Rao, 2003 and Matkowski, 2008) and
are good antibacterial agents against many human pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia
coli, Streptococcus sp, Staplylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Meng et al,
2005; Cushnie and Lamb, 2005; Park et al, 2006 and Stevic et al, 2010). These
observations therefore support the use oiE. pursaetha in herbal remedies. Li et al., (2003)
reviewed the bio-logical activities of tannins and observed that tannins have anticancer
ssssactivity and can be used in cancer prevention, thus suggesting that E. pursaetha has
potential as a source of important bioactive molecules for the treatment and prevention of
cancer.

Another secondary metabolite compound observed in the underground portion of C.

aciculatus, leaves of S. pruniformis, whole plant of P. hydropiper, stem of T. cordifolia

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and seed kernel of E. pursaetha is alkaloids which are one of the largest groups of
phytochemicals in plants and have amazing efTects on humans and this has led to the
development of powerful pain killer medications (Kam & Liew, 2002). Alkaloids have
been associated with medicinal uses for centuries and one of their common biological
properties is their toxicity against cells of foreign organisms (Nobori, et al, 1994). Several
workers have reported the analgesic (Antherden, 1969; Harbome, 1973), antispasmodic
and antibacterial (Stray, 1998; Okwu & Okwu 2004) properties of alkaloids. These
activities have been widely studied for their potential use in the elimination and reduction
of human cancer cell lines (Nobori et al, 1994). The alkaloids contained in plants are used
in medicine as anaesthetic agents (Herourat et al., 1988).
Saponin was found to be present in C. aciculatus, S. pruniformis, E. pursaetha and P.
hydropiper extracts, which are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides characterised by their
bitter or astringent taste, foaming properties and their haemolytic effect on red blood cells
(Prohp & Onoagbe, 2012). Saponins possess both beneficial (cholesterol-lowering) and
deleterious (cytotoxic permeabilization of the intestine) properties and also exhibit
structure dependent biological activities (Osagie & Eka, 1998). Saponins cause a
reduction of blood cholesterol by preventing its re-absorption
(http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/saponins.php) and have anti-tumor and
anti-mutagenic activities and can lower the risk of human cancers, by preventing cancer
cells from growing thereby limiting their growth and viability (Roa et al, 1995). It has
also been documented that the plants produce saponins to fight infections caused by
parasites and in humans saponins help the immune system to protect against viruses and
bacteria and the non-sugar part of saponins have a direct antioxidant activity which may
result in reduced risk of cancer and heart diseases (Prohp & Onoagbe, 2012) and also
claimed that the saponins have cleaning agents (Sofowora, 1984) and this detergent
properties of it have led to their use in shampoos, facial cleansers and cosmetic creams
(http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/saponins.php). Just et aL (1998)
revealed the inhibitory effect of saponins on inflamed cells and has supported the
usefulness of these saponin containing plants in managing inflammation. The presence of
saponins in plants have been reported to be responsible for the tonic and stimulating
activities observed in Chinese and Japanese medical herbs (Alinnor, 2008).
Carbohydrates are the most abimdant biomolecules. They are presented as free
monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and as essential components of
glycoconjugates, including glycolipids, glycoproteins or glycopeptides, and glycosylated

346
natural products. Glycosylated are natural products which have been commonly used as
antimicrobial drugs and now as emerging anti-cancer drug candidates (Cao, 2011).
Carbohydrates are another type of secondary metabolite compound present in C.
aciculatus, S. pruniformis, E. pursaelha DC. var. sinohimalensis, P. hydropiper and T.
cordifolia extracts which provides energy and fuel for the brain and muscle and contains
fiber needed for proper gut function. Many natural occurring and synthetic carbohydrate
mimics including iminosugar- and aminoglycoside-based glycosidase inhibitors have been
used as drugs to treat diabetes, viral infections, cancers, and Gaucher diseases (Asano.
2003; Asano, 2009; Inoue, 1966; Kajimoto & Node, 2009;

http://www.tmres.com/ebook/uploads/tiwari/T-1302158985Twiari-14.pdf)-
Flavonoids are another phytoconstituent present in S. pruniformis., E. pursaetha DC.
var. sinohimalensis and P. hydropiper which are water soluble polyphenolic substances
belong to the polyphenol family known to be synthesized by plants in response to
microbial infection and they have been found to be antimicrobial substances against a
wide array of microorganisms in vitro. Together with carotenes, flavonoids are also
responsible for the coloring of fruits, vegetables and herbs
(http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/flavonoids.php). Their activity is
probably due to their ability to form complex with extra cellular and soluble proteins and
to form complex with bacterial cell wall (Marjorie, 1996). Flavonoids have antioxidant
activities as well as health promoting effects viz., anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, vasoprotective, tumor inhibitory and anti-viral effects
(Salah et al., 1995; Del-Rio et al, 1997; Okwu, 2004; Hodek et al., 2002). These effects
have been associated with the influence of flavonoids on arachidonic acid metabolism.
Some flavonoids containing plants are diuretics (e.g. buchu), antispasmodic (e.g.
liquorice) and others have antimicrobial properties (Trease and Evans, 2002).
Epidemiological studies have shown that heart diseases are inversely related to flavonoid
intake and that flavonoids prevent the oxidation of LDL therefore reducing the risk for the
development of atherosclerosis. It has also been reported that flavonoids lower the blood
levels of cholesterol and triglycerides

(http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/flavonoids.php).
Therefore, it can be concluded that the preliminary phytochemical analysis are
helpful in flnding chemical constituents in the plant materials that may lead to their
quantitative estimation and also in locating the source of pharmacologically active

347
chemical compounds. It is also stated that, the phytochemical screening of the medicinal
plants is of prime importance for the verification of affectiveness and safety of folk
medicines. The plants / plant parts under study could be a potential source of active
antimicrobial agents and may help in the detailed assessment of them in vivo potencies
and toxicological profile. The results obtained in the present study thus suggest that the
identified phytochemical compounds may be the bioactive constituents and these plants
are proving to be an increasingly valuable reservoir of bioactive compounds of substantial
medicinal merit.

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