Phytochemical properties of selected fungicidal aqueous extracts of some higher plant leaves

The traditional medicine involves the use of different plant extracts or the bioactive constituents. Secondary metabolites are responsible for medicinal activity of plants. Hence, in the present study phytochemical screening of some important medicinal plants was carried out. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of these plants confirm the presence of various phytochemicals like saponins, terpenoids, steroids, anthocyanins, coumarins, fatty acids, tannins, leucoanthocyanins and emodins. The preliminary phytochemical screening of selected aqueous leaf extracts viz. Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera, Catharanthus roseus, Datura stramonium, Eucalyptus globulus, Euphorbia hirta, Lantana camara, Moringa oleifera, Murraya koenigii and Ocimum sanctum revealed presence of bioactive components viz., alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. Alkaloids compound associated with plant extracts were detected in all the plant extracts, suggestive that it is responsible for fungitoxicity. The others secondary metabolites like terpenoids, steroids, saponins etc. were present in trace amounts in some of the plants.