Identification of bio-active components in leaf extracts of Aloe vera, Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulasi) and Tinospora cordifolia (Amrutballi)

Abstract

Plants are an integral part of life in many indigenous communities. Besides, being the source of food, fodder, fuel, etc., the use of plants as herbal medicines in curing several ailments goes parallel with the human civilization. The present study was carried out to identify the bio-active compds. in various leaf exts. of Aloe vera, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Tinospora cordifolia using different phytochem. screening tests. Total phenolic content (TPC) was detd. by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay method and total flavonoid content (TFC) using aluminum chloride colorimetric method in the sample exts. The phytochem. screening results revealed that all the exts. of A. vera, O. tenuiflorum and T. cordifolia are pos. for alkaloids, but flavonoids and tannins are present only in some of the exts. Pos. results for saponins and terpenoids are obtained only for T. cordifolia exts. TPC of A. vera was high in ethanolic ext. (138.13 mg/g) compared to the other two solvents, whereas methanolic ext. of O. tenuiflorum (114.34 mg/g) and aq. ext. (465.82 mg/g) of T. cordifolia exhibited max. TPC comaparitively. TFC of A. vera was higher in methanol ext. (88.59 mg/g) compared to the other two solvents, whereas methanol (96.34 mg/g) and ethanol (95.46 mg/g) exts. exhibited similar TFC for O. tenuiflorum compared to aq. ext. and for T. cordifolia ethanol ext. (208.36 mg/g), exhibited max. TFC comaparitively. The results of all the three sources were found to be highly significant. However, there is a need to exploit natural sources with medicinal value not only to be used in medical field but also for developing healthy clothing. [on SciFinder(R)]