Supercritical Fluid Extraction Isolation Identification and Characterization of Phytoconstituents in Nyctanthes arbor tristis Linn

Abstract

Earth is a planet dominated by plants. The green plant is fundamental to all other life. The oxygen we breathe, the nutrients we consume, the fuels we burn and many of the most important materials we use are produced by plants. The association between plant and man is an age-old process starting from human civilization. Since time immemorial, nature has been a rich source of medicinal agents. Using the traditional knowledge there are isolation of phytoconstituents carried out from natural sources. newlineThe importance of plants as one of the natural sources of drugs cannot be veremphasized as about 25% of the drugs prescribed worldwide come from plants (Rates,2001). Ethnobotany has developed as an important research field as plants continues to be an integral part of human existence (Sumner, 2000; Okujagu et al., 2006). This has prompted humanity to undertake a systematic study of the plants from different point of view. newlineIndia, like all other countries, has made significant progress in the scientific study of plant drugs from the harmacological, chemical, harmacognostical and clinical points of view during the past 65 years (Krishnan, 1999; Subramani, 2001). The field of phytochemistry which deals with natural products chemistry is related to the study of products elaborated by plants and has become a distinct discipline having combination of newlinenatural product organic chemistry and plant biochemistry. This branch of science deals with the study of chemical structures of plant constituents, their biosynthesis, metabolism, natural distribution and biological functions. The fact that only less than 10% of the total identified species of plants on earth have been investigated indicates the opportunities and challenges which have been thrown open to phytochemists (Subramani,2001). newline