Phytochemical Analysis of Root Bark of Argemone Mexicana L.

Abstract

Argemone Mexicana is widely occurring herb found in tropical and subtropical region of the world. This plant has many medical applications. The root bark is diuretic and used for treatment of skin diseases.  It is also used as the best liver tonic against liver disorders. Plant constituents of medicinal importance form an extensively diverse group of chemical compounds showing greater variation in solubility and stability. These are fixed oils, fats and waxes, phenols, Tannins, Proteins, alkaloids, Carbohydrates, glycosides, Volatile oils, Resins and Resin Combinations. In present study the phytochemical analysis of root bark powder is carried out by extraction method.  The classical chemical procedure for obtaining constituents from dried plant tissues is to continuously extract powdered material in soxhlet apparatus. The observations of phytochemical extracts like moderately polar extract of terpenoids and phenolics, basic extract of alkaloids, polar extract of quaternary alkaloids and n-oxides, neutral extract of fats and waxes and fibers is used for calculation of percent extraction. After complete phytochemical profile of given plant material fractionation of crude extract is desirable in order to separate the main classes of constituents from each other prior to chromatographic analysis.