QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT

Purpose: The aim this research was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles of leaf extracts of selected medicinal plants viz., Alternanthera ficoidea L., Mussaenda belilla L., Carica papaya L., Talinum fruticosum L., Kalanchoe pinnata L., and Eupatorium perfoliatum L. Methods: Plants which were collected was extracted using three solvents aqueous, ethanol and methanol and phytochemical analysis was carried out for the leaf extracts as per the standard methods. Results: The leaf extracts of selected medicinal plants showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, alkaloids, saponins, phenols, phytosterols, tannins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids in three different solvents. Conculsion: Different solvent extraction played important role in detection phytochemicals in different selected leaf samples. Methanol can extract most of the compounds like in water or ethanol. Methanol is the best solvent for detection of secondary metabolites. Therefore, methanol extract can be used to evaluate the activity of medicinal plants.