Comparative Study of Pharmacognostical and Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation of Curcuma Longa Leaves and Rhizomes

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herb, belonging to family Zingiberaceae. The rhizomes and leaves of turmeric were extracted separately with ethanol by Soxhlet extraction and the percentage yield of rhizomes and leaves of Turmeric was 12% and 17% yield respectively. The extract of turmeric rhizomes and leaves can increase the bile flow, offer protection of the gall bladder and also the leaf extract possess anticancer properties. The present study was focused on the isolation of curcuminoids by thin layer chromatography using chloroform: ethanol: glacial acetic acid in a ratio of 95: 5: 1. From TLC the better resolution of Rf value was observed in rhizomes at 0.8, 0.66, 0.51 as Curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin respectively whereas Rf value of leaves was 0.42 as Bisdemethoxycurcumin, when visualized under 366nm under bright yellow fluorescent. The phytochemical screening of leaf extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and phenols. The ash value of turmeric rhizomes and leaves was 3.33% and 6.67%, acid insoluble value was 1.3% and 2% and water insoluble value was 13.3% 1nd 16.67% respectively. The moisture content of rhizomes and leaves of turmeric in IRMoisture balance was found to be 0.93 and 0.30 whereas in Tray Drier the moisture balance was 0.46 and 0.27 respectively while the melting point was observed as 160-163C and 116120C respectively which resembles the report of literature (IP, 2007).