Physico-chemical and preliminary phytochemical screening of Psoralea corylifolia

The Psoralea corylifolia is commonly known as babchi or bakuchi, used to cure psoriasis, leprosy, leucoderma, diabetes, indigestion, constipation, cardiac failure, coughs, asthma and osteoporosis. The present study was aimed to investigate the Physico-chemical and preliminary phytochemical screening of Psoralea corylifolia seeds. The extracts of Psoralea corylifolia seeds were prepared using different solvents like petroleum ether, ethanol and distilled water. The physic-chemical parameters of Psoralea corylifolia seeds powder were determined like extractive value, loss on drying and foaming index. The presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, steroids, polyphenol, saponins and terpenoids were indicated by the test conducted. The three Rf value (0.82; 0.63; 0.45) of ethanol extracts and two Rf value (0.72; 0.65) of aqueous extracts were found in TLC plate. HPLC method was developed for the fingerprinting of bakuchiol, psoralen, and angelicin present in Psoralea corylifolia extract. These studies provided referential information in regard to its identification parameters assumed significantly in the way of acceptability of herbal drugs in present scenario of lack of regulatory laws to control quality of herbal drugs.