The Phytochemical screening is a valuable step for the identification of bioactive component present in the traditional plants. This bioactive component can be used for curing various diseases in human beings. Phytochemicals can be classified into two classes
(1) Primary phytoconstituents and (2) Secondary phytoconstituents. Primary Phyto constituents have chlorophyll, amino acids and proteins. Secondary constituents mainly contains terpenoids and alkaloids. The bioactive constituents presents in the medicinal plants can be used for the discovery of new drug and development of new drug moiety. In this presents research study, the phytoconstituents of Bengal gram or Cicer aritinum were identified. This gives us a valuable idea about the activity of the plants. Here the screening of Bengal gram was done in order to determine the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, carbohydrates, steroids and terpenoids, flavanol glycosides, glycosides, tannis, thiols, amino acids, proteins etc using standard procedures. The results indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, carbohydrates, steroids, and terpenoids, flavanol glycoside, tannis, thiols, proteins were present whereas glycoside and amino acids were absent. The phytochemical analysis of the plants is very important because of its commercial value in the Pharmaceutical companies for the development of newer drugs. It can be concluded that Bengal gram or Cicer arietinum seed coat have highest therapeutic efficacy because majority of phytochemical present in it have antioxidant, anti inflammatory activities.
Keywords: Folk lore; Preliminary; Screening; Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals or Phytoconstituents means plant chemicals, which can be used both as protective as well as to prevent diseases. The nutrients present in the phytocostituents are not essential for the © human body for maintaining the life, but now a days the research studies showed that the chemicals produced by the plants can prevent diseases in human systems [1].
Antioxidants acts by protecting the cells against oxidative damages. This will reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Eg:- Flavonoids, phenols
Flavonoids also reduce the menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.
Saponins which is found in beans helps to interfere with the replication of DNA cells. Thus preventing the multiplication of cells in cancer.
Cicer arietinum or Bengal gram belongs to the family Fabaceae were purchased from Thiruvalla, Kerala, India and were identified by the Taxonomists from Marthoma College Thiruvalla. The seed coat was used for the screening purpose. It was carefully removed and dried under shade and then powdered and kept for further analysis.
The dried powdered Bengal gram seed coat was extracted with ethanol. The ethanol extract were filtered and dried using rotary evaporator under reduced 0 pressure at 40 c.
Screening of the extracts was done for various constituents and was carried out using standard methods and was described in Table No. 1[4, 5].
The tests revealed the presence of various active components which may be the reason for the hepatoprotective action (specially phenol) of Bengal gram seed coat. The observation and inference done for the phytochemical analysis are reported as follows.
The alkaloids were detected by the presence of orange or red precipitate. Confirmation tests were done with Dragendroff test, (yellow Precipitate) Wagner’s lest (yellow or brown precipitate) and Hager test (yellow precipitate)
Appearance of green colour indicates the presence of flavonoids. Alkaline reagent test (yellow colour) lead acetate test (yellow precipitate) confirmed the presence of flavonoids.
Foam test confirms the presence of saponins by the presence of froth formation.
The change of red colour to blue colour was observed in the extracts indicating the presence of phenols.
Appearance of pink to crimson colour was observed in the extract of active component which indicates the presence of flavonol glycoside.
The ethanolic extract treated with concentrated sulphuric acid shows the presence of green to blue colour which confirms the presence of steroids.
Appearance of bluish colour after the addition of sulphuric acid in the active 154
filtrate add 1ml of Bismath and potassium iodide reagent Dragendroff’s reagent.
add 1or 2drops of wagner’s 5ml of extract + Hager’s reagent ml of active component 5 drops active component + 1ml of alcoholic solution + active reagent in to the acidic solution extract plus ferric chloride solution with Hcl and 5ml of filtrate Dragendroff;s test 5ml of extract were taken Wagner’s test (Iodine – To this potassium Solution) reagent Hager test (Saturated picric acid solution)
5 Foam test sodium bicarbonate, vigorously, allow 5min Hemolysis test Suspension
Lead acetate test component, dilute sulphuric acid Gelatin test Active component gelatin solution Active component Ferric chloride test Add 10% fecl solution 3 Mayer’s Reagent test Add 1 or two (Potassium Mercuric iodide test) confirms the presence of Tannis.
then filter. To the precipitate.
nitrate is treated with Presence of yellow precipitate Presence of Yellow or , add Hcl.
brown colour Presence of yellow precipitate , +1 drop of Froth is formed shake to stand for 3- Hemolysis is present RBC Red to blue colour by the addition of Na0H solution. it with 20% White precipitate is +2ml of 1% formed.
Appearance of blue or +2ml water + green precipitate Presence white drops of mayer’s precipitate 155 0.5ml of active component 2ml test solution + 1 g dried extract in 5ml alcohol magnesium ribbon + Conc.
Ethanolic extract 1ml + conc.
2 ml ethanolic extract 2 ml active ethanolic extract + 1ml Ethanolic extract + 5ml lead 5ml of test solution + 1 potassium dichromate solution 0.5ml of ethanolic solution + sodium nitro peroxide. A
Ferric chloride test drops of Hcl Alkaline reagent test chloride solution Lead acetate test 2ml test solution hydroxide
Magnesium Hcl reduction 1-2ml of lead ac test
Libermann burchard test 50m Salkowski test
Ferric ehloride Test H SO 2 4 Lead acetate test of Fec1 solution 3 Potassium Dichromate test 1ml acetate solution
Kellerkillani test of conc. Nitric acid + 10 Presence of red or pink or brown colour to 5ml ferric Appearance of green colour + sodium Presence of yellow colour etate solution Presence of yellow precipitate + Appearance of pink to Hcl crimson colour H2SO4 Presence of green colour – blue +1ml conc. Alcohol layer shows red colour Bluish – Blackish colour after H SO addition 2 4 yellow – brown precipitate Presence of yellow to red precipitate Formation of red -2 ml of precipitate Appearance of magenta 5% colour dd 2 drops 156 acid (1drop) Add 2 drops of 1ml test solution +1ml pyridine Test solution is heated with H er it. Add chloroform 5ml test solution + millon’s reagent
Legal’s test 2ml of extract solution (2ml) H SO 2 4 Borutroager’s test
Millon’s reagent test filt Biuret test heat the mixture hydroxide and solution
Ninhydrin reagent To 2ml test ninhydrin reagent heat it + ferric chloride Presence of 2 layers. and glacial acetic Upper layer Bluish green. conc. lower layer Raddish brown Absence of pink to red colour 2SO4 Absence of red colour Formation of red colour . Add sodium copper sulphate solution add Absence of bluish colour 5. Test for a Carbohydrates 6. Test for a Steroids and Terpenoids Test for Flavonol Glycoside 7.
8. Test for Glycoside 9. Test for Tannis 10. Test for Thoils 11. Test for Protein 12. Test for Amino acid
The Phytochemical constituents contribute the biological activities of the herbal plants such as antidiabetic, antimalarial, antioxidant activities [6]. Cicer arietinum or Bengal gram, in the screening analysis were found to have with phenols. This indicates and confirms the presence of antioxidant activity and hepato protective property of bengal gram. Tannins were also present.
This helps to fasten the wounds to heal and inflamed mucous membranes. Flavonoids were also present in Bengal gram which have strong anticancer activity, and hepato protective activity. Flavonoids are potent water soluble anti oxidants [7, 8]. It helps in controlling liver diseases as well as diabetes. Terpenoids have been used to cure certain diseases like cancer and necrosis. It is known to possess antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties [9, 10]. Steroids reduce the cholesterol levels. It also helps in regulating Molischs test Yes Barfoeds test Yes Benedicts test Yes Salkowaskia test a Yes Liberman test a Yes Magnesium Hydro chloride reductiona test Yes a Keller Killinni test No Legal test No Ferric Chloride test Yes Lead Acetate test Yes Thoils test Yes Millions test Yes Biurete test Yes Nin Hydrin Test No.
immune system [11]. Presence of protein helps to repair and helps in maintaining the body. It is the building blocks of life.
It can be concluded the Cicer arietinum seed coat contains maximum classes of phytoconstituents which have highest therapeutic efficacy especially with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities. It was claimed by the traditional system of medicine or folks that, Cicer arietinum is effective for various ailments in humans. The results give validity to the claim. It can also be concluded the folk lore claims were true and effective which may be due to the presence of phytoconstituent.