Phytochemical Analysis of the Leaf, Flower, and Bark of a Medicinal Plant, Crataeva Magna (lour.) Dc

Objective: The aim of this work was to perform preliminary screening of the phytoconstituents present in the leaf, flower, and bark of a valuable medicinal plant, Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC. Methods: Phytochemical analysis of the leaf, flower, and bark extracts was done using various solvent by standard methods as described by Harborne (1973). Results: Six different extracts each for leaf, flower, and bark were screened. Saponins were present in all the extracts of leaf, flower, and bark, whereas not a single extract showed the presence of steroids. Five extracts of flower and four extracts of leaf and bark indicated the prevalence of flavonoids. Similarly, four extracts of bark and three extracts of leaf and flower showed the incidence of tannins. Terpenoids occurred only in the aqueous extracts of leaf and flower, whereas alkaloids were found only in two and one extract(s) of leaf and bark, respectively. Phenolic compounds were not found in any of the bark extracts, but three and two extracts of leaf and flower showed their presence. Conclusion: The preliminary phytochemical analysis of this medicinal plant indicated that these plant parts can be exploited by scientists in general and the pharmaceutical industries in particular for the designing of new drugs.