Pharmacognostic And Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation Of Cassia Auriculata (L.,) Leaves

Abstract

Leaves of plant Cassia Auriculata L. are reported to possess medicinal values in traditional leaves of medicine. The present investigation deals with preliminary phytochemical investigation of leaves of Cassia Auriculata L. which includes physicochemical parameters like ash values, extractive values, and moisture content. The total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash values, and sulfated ash were observed to be 5.04%, 2.96%, 2.13%, and 0.56% respectively. Alcohol-soluble and water-soluble extractive values of leaves were observed to be 2.73%, and 5.51% respectively. Phytochemical investigation of n-hexane, chloroform, and ethanol extract revealed the presence of glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, and proteins. The main aim of the present investigation is to study the Pharmacognostic characteristics and phytochemical standard of leaves of Cassia Auriculata L. which could be used to prepare a monograph for proper plant identification. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of solvent extracts of Cassia Auriculata L. were tested against one gram positive, one-gram negative human pathogenic bacteria and one fungi respectively. All extracts showed broad spectrum of inhibition by showing antibacterial effect of both bacterial stains. The tested bacterial strains were S. aureus, E. coli and fungal strains was C. albicans. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts is due to the presence of secondary metabolites. Hence these plants can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in development of new pharmaceuticals research.