European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF DIFFERENT SOLVENT EXTRACTS FROM CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS LEAF

Mridula Vellore, S. Komathi* and G. Rajalakshmi

ABSTRACT

Cymbopogon citratus commonly referred to as “lemon grass” is a widely grown essential oil plant in the world. In this study, the qualitative phytochemical screening of Cymbopogon citratus leaf was studied. Seven solvents that is hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water were used to obtain extracts from powdered plant parts. The extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using standard procedure. Results show that out of eleven phytochemicals eight phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, phytosterols, terpenoids, reducing sugars and carbohydrates were found in ethanolic extract. Methanol reported presence of five phytochemicals. Chloroform reported the presence of saponins, glycosides and volatile oils other than the phytochemicals reported by methanol. Of the entire phytochemical test, terpenoids were found in all of the solvents. The diversity of phytochemicals found in Cymbopogon citratus could serve as a source of useful drugs.

Keywords: Lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus, Medicinal plants, Phytochemicals.