PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF BAUHINIA PURPUREA L.: AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT

Abstract

For thousands of years mankind is using plant sources to alleviate or cure illnesses. Plants constitute a source of novel chemical compounds which are of potential use in medicine and other applications. This study deals with the phytochemical screening of leaf extract of Bauhinia purpuria L. one of the wild members of the family Caesalpiniaceae. The plant is known for its anti-cold, anti- cough, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal properties since ages and is being used by local tribal communities as an ethnomedicine. The preliminary phytochemical screening was performed from leaf extract for the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannins, flavonoids and terpenoids. The presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannins, flavanoids and terpenoids in this plant indicates that it could be used in the treatment of burns and wounds. Finally, the high alkaloids flavonoids and terpenoids content of the plant suggest the antioxidant potential and justifies the therapeutics action which could be used in drug formulation.