Phytochemical Screening and Thin Layer Chromatographic Studies of Aerva Lanata Root Extract

India being a rich and varied flora of medicinal plants since the Vedic period. The present study deals with the phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatographic studies of Aerva lanata root extract belonging to family Amaranthaceae. Phytochemical screening determination by some chemical tests and thin layer chromatographic study was carried out by using various solvent system of varying polarity of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts. Phytochemical screening reflects presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, flavanoids, quinones and terpenoids shows different types of results in different solvents extracts. Thin layer chromatographic studies of the Aerva lanata root extracts constituted different colored phytochemical compounds with different Rf values. The chloroform and methanol extracts in the drug is carried out to establish the biomarker compound. The result obtained in present study indicated Aerva lanata root as a rich source of natural antioxidants, and provides evidence that solvent extract of Aerva lanata contains medicinally important bioactive compounds and this justifies the use of plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases.