Vol 4 suppl 2, July-Sep 2015 www.mintagejournals.com 1
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FLOWERS OF Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.)
BAKER EX. K.HEYNE
B.AMALA*, T.V. POONGUZHALI
P.G and Research Department of Botany, Queen Mary’s College, Chennai, India.Email:mail2amala87@gmail.com Received - 02.07.2015; Reviewed and accepted -15.07.2015
ABSTRACT
Flowers of higher plants have been used for centuries for several purposes such as medicine, food and garnishing in many parts of the world. The present study focuses on preliminary phytochemical screening of flowers of Peltophorum pterocarpum was carried out. Peltophorum pterocarpum (belonging to Fabaceae family) regarded as one of the most significant plant species in traditional system of medicine. The plant is used in different parts of the world for the treatment of several ailments like stomatitis, insomnia, skin troubles, constipation, ringworm, insomnia, dysentery, muscular pains, sores, and skin disorders and is the source of a diverse kind of chemical constituents such as aliphatic alcohols, fatty acids, amino acids, terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids etc. The presence of various bioactive compounds confirms the application of P.pterocarpum for various ailments by traditional practitioners. However, isolation of individual phytochemical constituents may proceed to find a novel drug.
Key words:phenols, saponin, flavonoids, quinones, steroids.
INTRODUCTION
Peltophorum pterocarpum (Copperpod, Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Flamboyant, Yellow Flame Tree, Yellow Poinciana and Radhachura in Bangla; Synonyms: Peltophorum inermis and
Peltophorum ferrugineum) is a family of Fabaceae native to tropical southeastern Asia and a popularly ornamental tree grown around the world. It is a deciduous tree growing to 15–25 m (rarely up to 50 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1m.
The leaves are bipinnate, 30-60 cm long, with 16-20 pinnae, each pinna with 20-40 oval leaflets 8-25 mm long and 4-10 mm broad. The flowers are yellow, 2.5-4 cm in diameter, produced in large compound racemes up to 20 cm long. The fruit is a pod 5-10 cm long and 2.5 cm broad, red at first, ripening black, and containing one to four seeds. Trees begin to flower after about four years [1, 2].
The plant is native to tropical southeastern Asia and northern Australasia, in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and the islands of the coast of Northern Territory, Australia [1,3]. The plant is also found in different regions of India including Birbhum District, West Bengal. The wood of the plant is wide variety of uses, including cabinet-making [4] and the foliage is used as a fodder crop [1].
Different parts of this tree are used to treat many diseases like stomatitis, insomnia, skin troubles, constipation, ringworm and its flower extract is known to be a good sleep inducer and used in insomnia treatment [5-7]. Its bark is used as medicine for dysentery, as eye lotion, embrocation for pains and sores. The traditional healers use the leaves in the form of decoction for treating skin disorders. Stem infusion of P. pterocarpum (DC.) Baker ex K. Heyne used in dysentery, for gargles, tooth powder and muscular pain [8]. Flowers are used as an astringent to cure or relieve intestinal disorders after pain at childbirth, sprains, bruises and swelling or as a lotion for eye troubles, muscular pains and sores [9].
The taxonomical classification of Peltophorum pterocarpum is given below:
Kingdom Plantae Division Magnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida Sub-class Rosidae Order Fabales Family Fabaceae Sub-family Caesalpinioideae
Genus Peltophorum Species P. pterocarpum
Binomial name
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Baker ex. K. Heyne
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preliminary phytochemical screening
The phytochemical qualitative chemical composition of flower extract of P. pterocarpum. using commonly employed precipitation and coloration to identify the major natural chemical groups such as steroids, reducing sugars, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, amino acids and glycosides were performed by the standard method. General reactions in these analyses revealed the presence or absence of these compounds in the crude extracts tested.
Collection of plant material
Fresh flowers of P. pterocarpum were collected from different places in chennai. The flowers were washed thoroughly with normal tap water followed by sterile distilled water. Then the flowers were shade dried at room temperature. Flowers were crushed to powder using grinding machine. The powered sample was analyzed for qualitative inorganic compounds.
Preparation of the plant extract
Preparation of the extracts was done according to a combination of the methods prescribed by Pizzale et al., 2002 [10] and Lu and Foo, 2001 [11]. The dried flower powder of P. pterocarpum plant materials were extracted with ethanol (75%), acetone, chloroform, petroleum ether and aqueous extract for 1 minute using an ultra turax mixer (13,000 rpm) and soaked overnight at room temperature. The extracts were then filtered through what man No.1 paper in a Buchner funnel. The filtered solution was evaporated under vacuum in a rota-evator at 40°C to a constant weight and then dissolved in respective solvents. The concentrated extracts were stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator below 10°C.
Phytochemical screening of P. pterocarpum flower extracts
Amala et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences│1-3
Vol 4 suppl 2, July-Sep 2015 www.mintagejournals.com 2 cardiac glycosides, coumarins and steroids. General reactions
in these analyses revealed the presence or absence of these compounds in the flower extracts tested.
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Test for Tannin
1 mL of flower extract was taken in a test tube. To that 1mL of 5% ferric chloride was added. Formation of greenish black colour indicates the presence of tannin.
Test for Saponin
To 1 mL of flower extract was added to 2mL of distilled water in a test tube. The solution was shaken for 15minutes observed for stable persistent foam of about 0.5 to 1 cm layer indicates the presence of saponin.
Test for Flavonoid
To 1mL of 2N NaoH was added to 1mL of flower extract. Appearance of yellow colour indicates the presence of flavonoid.
Test for Quinone
To 1mL of flower extract 1.5mL of conc. sulphuric acid was added. The solution was observed for the formation of red colour indicates the presence of quinone.
Test for Cardioglycoside (kellerkillani test)
To 1mL of flower extract, 2mL of glacial acetic acid and 0.5mL of 5% ferric chloride was added.To that 1.5mL of conc. sulphuric acid is added and observed for the formation of brown color.
Test for Terpenoid(Salkowski Test)
1mL of chloroform was added to 1mL of flower extract and 1.5mL of conc.sulphuric acid is added to it. Formation of reddish brown colour indicates the presence of Terpenoids
Test for Phenol
To 1mL of leaf extract,1mL of sodium carbonate was added. To that 1mL of folin was added. Formation of blue or green colour indicates the presence of Phenols.
Test for Coumarin
Add 1mL of 10% Sodium hydroxide to 1mL of flower extract.The solution was observed for the appearance of yellow colour.
Test for Steroids
To 1mL of flower extract was added to 1mL of chloroform and 1.5mL of conc.sulphuric acid. The appearance, at the interphase,a reddish brown colour showed a positive reaction.
Test for Alkaloid
To 1mL of flower extract, 1mL of conc. Sulphuric acid was added. To that 1mL of mayer’s reagent is added. The formation of green or white precipitate was regarded as positive for the presence of alkaloids.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Table 1: Phytochemical screening of flowers of Peltophorum pterocarpum
Phytochemicals Aqueous Extract
Ethanolic Extract
Chloroform Extract
Acetone Extract
Petroleumether Extract
Tannin - + - ++ -
Saponin + - - + -
Flavanoid + - + ++ +
Quinone + ++ + ++ +
Cardioglycoside - + - + -
Terpenoid + + + + +
Phenol +++ +++ + + -
Coumarin + + + ++ +
Steroid + + + + +
Alkaloid + + - - -
β-cyanin + - + + +
(+) Presence of phytochemicals ;(-) Absence of phytochemicals
DISCUSSION
The result of the preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that the presence of secondary metabolites like phenols, saponin, flavonoids, quinones, steroids, coumarins, tannins, saponins, terpeniods and alkaloids, in the flowers of P. pterocarpum. This phytochemical screening aids as an initial step for future determination of its activity like antioxidant, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimutagenic etc.
The phytoconstituent was rich in ethanolic and acetone extract of flowers of P. pterocarpum Phytochemical constituents such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and several other aromatic compounds or secondary metabolites of plants serve as defense mechanism against predation by many microorganism, insects and herbivores. The curative properties of medicinal plants are perhaps due to the presence of various secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids etc [15].
It may be concluded that the medicinal plants are very useful both for food and dye. The present plant of study may be used to cure some common diseases.
All the 5 solvents i.e ethanol, acetone, chloroform, Petroleumether and Aqueous out of this acetone and ethanolic extraction of P. pterocarpum show positive tests for few phyto chemicals, some chemical components cant extract some solvents. The results are shown in table 1. ethanolic extracts of
the plant show positive results for many number of tests, indicates that ethanol is used as a best solvent for extraction of phytochemicals.
In these screening process alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and terpenoids, glycosides, phenols shows different types of results in different solvents. The medicinal value of plants lies in some chemical substances that have a definite physiological action on the human body. Different phytochemicals have been found to possess a wide range of activities, which may help in protection against chronic diseases. Alkaloids protect against chronic diseases. Saponins protect against hypercholesterolemia and antibiotic properties [16]. Steroids and triterpenoids show the analgesic for central nervous system activities.
Thus the plant studied can be used as a potential source of new useful drugs. The phytochemical characterization of the extracts, the isolation of responsible bioactive compounds and their biological activity are necessary for future studies.
CONCLUSION
Amala et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences│1-3
Vol 4 suppl 2, July-Sep 2015 www.mintagejournals.com 3 metabolites which could be utilized as dye, cosmetics and
therapeutics.
REFERENCES
1. www.google.co.in Peltophorum pterocarpum (Dc) Hayne, Houerou.
2. Huxley A: New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan Press, ISBN 0-333-47494-5; 1992.
3. Rasingam L, Jeeva S and, Kannan D: Dental care of Andaman and Nicobar folks: medicinal plants use as tooth stick. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2012; 2(2, supplement): S1013-S1016.
4. McCann C: 100 Beautiful Trees of India. Taraporevala Sons & Co., Mumbai, Third edition 1966; 259.
5. Burkill HM: The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Second Edition, 1995; Vol. III: 100– 143.
6. Siri S, Wadbua P, Wongphathanakul W, Kitancharoen N and Chantaranothai P: Antibacterial and phytochemical studies of 20 Thai medicinal plants against catfish-infectious bacteria, Aeromonas caviae. Khon Kaen University Science Journal 2008; 36(S.1): 1–10.
7. Satish S, Mohana DC, Ranhavendra MP and Raveesha KA: Antifungal activity of some plant extracts against important seed borne pathogens of Aspergillus sp. Journal of Agriculture and Technology 2007; 3(1): 109–119. 8. Jain SC, Pancholi B and Jain R: Antimicrobial, free radical
scavenging activities and chemical composition of
Peltophorum pterocarpum Baker ex K. Heyne stem extract. Der Pharma Chemica 2012; 4(5): 2073–2079.
9. Sethuraman MG, Sulochana N and Kameswaran L: Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowers. Fitoterapia 1984; 55(3): 177–179.
10. Pizzale L, Bortolomeazzi R, Vichi S, Conte LS. Antioxidant activity of sage and oregano extracts related to their phenolic compound content. J Sci Food Agric 2002;82(14):1645-51.
11. Lu Y, Foo Y. Antioxidant activities of polyphenols from sage (Salvia officinalis). Food Chem 2001;75(2):197-202. 12. Finose A, Gopalakrishnan V. Phytochemical screening,
HPTLC and GC-MS profiling in the rhizomes of Zingiber nimmonii J. Graham Dalzell. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2014;7(2):54-7.
13. Savithramma N, Linga RM, Bhumi G. Phytochemical screening of Thespesia populnea [L.] Soland and Tridax procumbens L. J Chem Pharm Res 2011;3(5):2834. 14. Brinda P, Sasikala P, Purushothaman KK.
Pharmacognostic studies of Merugan kizhangu. Bull Med Ethono Bot Res 1981; 3(1):84-96.
15. Sofowora, A., (1993). Medicinal Plants and Traditional in Africa. Chichester John Wiley and Sons New York, pp: 97-145.
16. Amin Mir, M., Sawhney, S.S., and Jassal, M.M.S., “Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals of
