Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation on Quisqualis Indica Linn

Abstract

Research work was carried out for morphology, microscopy, extraction, quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents, isolation and structural elucidation of isolated phytoconstituents from leaves and flowers of Quisqualis indica Linn. In present study the microscopical character of leaves revealed that the presence anomocytic stomata, unicellular covering and calcium oxalate crystals which all have diagnostic characters. Microscopical studies of flowers revealed that presence of glandular and covering unicellular trichomes on epidermis, oil glands, pericyclic fibers, xylem and parenchymatous tissue in the middle of ovary. The annular xylem vessel, covering trichomes, epidermal cell, and anomocytic stomata were present in powder of Quisqualis indica linn. The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, amino acids, flavonoids and terpenoids etc. These phytochemicals are exhibit diverse pharmacological and biochemical/nutritional action in human being. The analytical method was developed and validated for the quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents in Quisqualis indica Linn. In the initial part of the research work leaves and flowers of Quisqualis indica Linn were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. Methanol extract was further fractionated with water and ethyl acetate. The fingerprinting and quantitative estimation of steroid, terpenoids, tannin and flavonoids were carried out by HPTLC. Two compounds were isolated from the pet ether extracts, three compounds isolated from methanolic extracts of flowers and leaves of Quisqualis indica Linn respectively. The isolated compounds were subjected to physico-chemical and spectral studies. The isolated and characterized compounds include Lupeol and and#946;-sitosterol. The ethyl acetate fraction of flowers and leaves subjected to column chromatography afforded two compounds respectively. newline