Preliminary phytochemical screening of various extracts of Valeriana wallichii root

Worldwide herbal medicines have been used traditionally for the prevention and treatment of various diseases as these are rich source of bioactive phytochemicals or bionutrients. Past three decades, studies carried out had shown that these phytochemicals have an important role in preventing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The disease – preventing functions that constitute the major classes of phytochemicals are dietary fibre, antioxidants, anticancer, detoxifying agents, immunity-potentiating agents and neuropharmacological agents. Some of the phytochemicals possess more than one function. In this aspect to reveal the phytochemical constituent of the plant Valeriana wallichii was carried out. V. wallichii is widely used in the indigenous system of medicine. In the present study preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out for alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponins and terpenoids. The tests revealed for the presence of flavonoids, reducing sugar, tepenoids and tannins and phenolics. It is also known as Valeriana jatamansi. Different parts of the plant root, rhizome, seed and flower have medicinal values. The therapeutic action of the plant is due to presence of major chemical constituent flavonoids. The herb is beneficial in treating digestive, spleen, liver and abdominal pains. Many pharmacological activities namely antiulcer, myorelaxant, antispasmodic, anti inflammatory, anti emetic, antioxidant, and cytoprotective and spasmolytic activity had been reported in different plant extracts. Based on many scientific researches this article reveals the therapeutic aspects of the herb.