phytochemical screening
Experiment no. 1: PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING
INTRODUCTION
Phytochemicals are define as the chemical compounds found or produced by the plants. The term is also define as the chemicals from the plant that may affect health [1]. This compounds are non-essential compounds which means that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. Some of the well-known phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes, isoflavones in soy and flavanoids in fruits [2].
To identify this phytochemicals, screening must be done. This process includes different methods which are test for pH, tannins and phenolic compounds, glycosides, reducing substances, alkaloids, plant acids, saponins, unsaturated stearols and triterpenes, flavones/ flaonols, flavonoids, and for carbohydrates. Prior to screening, sample would be obtain from the leaves of Mangifera indica L. (Fam. Anarcadiaceae), mango in common term. Water extraction will be used as a means in getting the sample out of the mango leaves.
The goals of this study are to define phytochemical screening, to differentiate primary metabolites from secondary metabolites, the researchers must be able to prepare and extract constituents from plant samples using USP extraction methods of Articles of Botanical Origin, to identify and perform the different tests in phytochemical screening and understand the principle involved and to identify the plant constituents present in the plant samples.
METHODOLOGY
Preparation of plant samples prior to screening
The researcher collected mango leaves as the sample that will be used for phytochemical screening. The researcher garbled the plant sample to remove extraneous matter such as other unnecessary plant parts, dirt and potential adulterants. Stems of the leaves were removed.
The researcher washed the sample with running water. They air-dried the material to remove excess moisture and ensured the good keeping qualities, molding was
INTRODUCTION
Phytochemicals are define as the chemical compounds found or produced by the plants. The term is also define as the chemicals from the plant that may affect health [1]. This compounds are non-essential compounds which means that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. Some of the well-known phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes, isoflavones in soy and flavanoids in fruits [2].
To identify this phytochemicals, screening must be done. This process includes different methods which are test for pH, tannins and phenolic compounds, glycosides, reducing substances, alkaloids, plant acids, saponins, unsaturated stearols and triterpenes, flavones/ flaonols, flavonoids, and for carbohydrates. Prior to screening, sample would be obtain from the leaves of Mangifera indica L. (Fam. Anarcadiaceae), mango in common term. Water extraction will be used as a means in getting the sample out of the mango leaves.
The goals of this study are to define phytochemical screening, to differentiate primary metabolites from secondary metabolites, the researchers must be able to prepare and extract constituents from plant samples using USP extraction methods of Articles of Botanical Origin, to identify and perform the different tests in phytochemical screening and understand the principle involved and to identify the plant constituents present in the plant samples.
METHODOLOGY
Preparation of plant samples prior to screening
The researcher collected mango leaves as the sample that will be used for phytochemical screening. The researcher garbled the plant sample to remove extraneous matter such as other unnecessary plant parts, dirt and potential adulterants. Stems of the leaves were removed.
The researcher washed the sample with running water. They air-dried the material to remove excess moisture and ensured the good keeping qualities, molding was
References: [1] Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health. Micronutrient Information Center. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals.html. Date accessed: January 22, 2014 [2]Phytochemicals. http://www.phytochemicals .info/. Date accessed: January 22, 2014. [3] United States Pharmacopeial Convention. United States Pharmacopeia, 30th revision and National Formulary, 25th edition.; USPCI: Rockville, Maryland, 2006.