Phytochemical Investigation of Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck.) Merrill

Traditional medicine also known as indigenous or folk medicine comprises medical knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine. Traditional medicines are prepared from a single plant or combination of more than one plant. Indian contribution to herbal market and emphasis on novel research is continuously increasing. Hence in the present study an important medicinal herb Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill was investigated for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening using standard methods. Preliminary phytochemical screening of various extracts of the leaves revealed the presence of various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenols. The results suggest that the phytochemical property of the plant for curing various ailments leads to the isolation of new and novel