Hplc and Gc-ms Analysis of Bidens Biternata (lour.) Merr and Sheriff a Wild Ethno Medicinal Plant

INTRODUCTION Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of compounds that can be used to treat chronic as well as infectious diseases. Due to the development of adverse effects and microbial resistance to the chemically synthesized drugs, men turned to ethnopharmacognosy. They found literally thousands of phytochemicals from plants as safe and broadly effective alternatives with less adverse effect. Many beneficial biological activity such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing activity were reported. In many cases the people claim the good benefit of ABSTRACT Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr and Sheriff, belongs to the family Asteraceae, is a wide spread weed in Waynadu district of Kerala state. It is used as a leafy vegetable by Paniya, Chetti, Kani and Kattunaayika tribes of Waynadu Districts in Kerala and also to cure inflammation, hepatitis, fever, cough, dysentery, bronchitis etc. In the present study crude methanolic leaves extract of B. biternata was investigated using HPLC and GC-MS. Presence of bioactive molecules like quercetin, gallic acid, luteolin, ferrulic acid and rutin, were identified using HPLC. Quercetin was found in higher quantities among them. GC-MS analysis of crude methanolic extract showed the presence of four important compounds.