INTRODUCTION:

The use of herbal medicine has become an integral part of human life. Plants contain phytochemicals which have medicinal properties. Phytochemicals are nonnutritive plant chemicals which have disease preventive properties[1]Some important phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants include alkaloids, flavanoids, phenolic compounds which show biological activity[2]Tannins have antimicrobial properties, flavanoids have antibacterial, antifungal properties, terpenes and steroids also have antimicrobial property against various pathogens[3]. Ficus genus which belongs to the family Moraceae, represents a vital group of plants which have immense medicinal value. Ficus dalhousiae Miq is one the species of this family which is widely used in traditional medicine. Ficus dalhousiae is an umbrageous tree 9–12 Meters having young branches at first softly pubescent and afterwards glabrous. It is mainly found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states (Coimbatore, Dundigal, Namkkal, Niligiri, Salem, Theni, Tirunaveli and Vellore districts) The leaves and bark of Ficus dalhousiae Miq are recommended for liver complaints. Fruit is used as cardiotonic.[4]. In the present study preliminary phytochemical screening and macroscopic analysis of different parts of the plant is conducted to differentiate it from the other species.

Description:

Ficus dalhousiae is an umbrageous tree 9-12 m having young branches at first softly pubescent and afterwards glabrous. Leaves are 10-23 cm in length, subcoriaceous petiolate elliptic or broadly ovate acute entire, base is cordate, 3-7 nerved, minutely dotted and puberulous or glabrous above, beneath softly minutely pubescent; nerves 10-12 pairs, rather prominent beneath, with midrib minutely pubescent; petiole 2.5-6.3 cm., pubescent; stipules are 1.3-2.5cm., ovate-lanceolate, much acuminate, puberulous or glabrous.[5] Receptacles are in pairs, shortly peduncled axillary obovoid with three broad triangular sometimes bifid basal bracts are densely hairy when ripe i.e about 13mm. diameter, peduncles are about 8mm in diameter, densely hairy. Male flowers are very few, only near apex of receptacle, sessile, globose; sepals are three, concave, rounded; stamen is one; connective wide, filament is thick adnate. Gall flowers on thick pedicels; perianth is gamophyllous; Ovary is obovoid, smooth; style is short. Female flowers are sessile; achene ovate; style is long, lateral, stigma is cylindrical.

Taxanomical classification:

Domain : Eukaryota

Kingdom : Plantae

Subkingdom : Viridaeplantae

Phylum : Tracheophyta

Subphylum : Euphyllophytina

Infraphylum : Radiatopses

Class : Mangoliopsida

Subclass : Dilleniidae

Super order : Urticanae

Order : Urticales

Family : Moraceae

Genus : Ficus

Specific epithet : dalhousiae Miq

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Collection and identification of plant material:

Fresh aerial roots, stem bark and leaves of the plant were collected from Tirupati The specimen S. No. 112, Voucher No. 0949 was deposited in the herbarium, Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana. The plant was identified by a taxonomist of the same department.

Processing of plant material:

Each part of the plant was washed under running water to make it free from dust and foreign particles. The plant parts were powdered and kept in airtight container before analysis.

Preparation of aqueous extracts:

5gm powder of each part was soaked in 30ml of distilled water, heated at 50-60ºC for 10 minutes and filtered using (Whatman filter paper No.1).The filtrate was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 20 minutes and analysed by phytochemical tests[6].

Phytochemical analysis:

Phytochemical analysis was carried according to the method of Siddiqui[6]and Edeoga[7] The phytochemicals analysed were alkaloids, amino acids ,carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavanoids phenolic compounds, proteins, saponins, sterols, tannins, terpenoids.

Screening methods:

Test for alkaloids:

200gm of powdered plant was dissolved in 10 ml CH₃OH and then filtered.1ml HCl (1%aqueous) was added to 2ml filtrate and warmed in a water bath. while stirring 6 drops of Dragendroff’s reagent was added to 1ml of the filtrate .Reddish brown precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids.

Test for amino acids:

5-7 drops of Ninhydrin reagent was added to 2ml of filtrate and heated on a water bath for 5 miutes. Purple colour indicates the presence of amino acids.

Test for carbohydrates:

5-8 drops of Fehling’s (A and B) solution was added to 1ml of filtrate and the resultant mixture was boiled for 2 minutes. Brick red precipitate indicated the presence of carbohydrates.

Test for cardiac glycosides:

To 1ml of glacial acetic acid, 3 drops of FeCl₃ and 3 drops of concentrated H₂SO₄was added. Green or blue precipitate indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides.

Test for flavanoids:

To 200gm of powdered plant material 10ml of ethanol was added, stirred and filtered. To 2ml of filtrate few pieces of magnesium ribbons were added along with few drops of concentrated HCl. Red colour indicated the presence of flavanoids.

Test for proteins:

5-7 drops of 5% NaOH and 5-7 drops of 1% Cu(SO₄) was added in 2 ml of filtrate. Violet colour indicated the presence of proteins

Test for saponins:

About 1ml of the filtrate was stirred with distilled water. Persistence of froth indicated the presence of saponins.

Test for steroids:

To 200mg of powdered plant material 10ml of CHCl₃was added and filtered, then 2ml of glacial acetic anhydride and few drops of concentrated H₂SO₄ was added in 2ml filtrate. Green ring indicated the presence of steroids.

Test for tannins:

200gm of powdered plant was dissolved in 10 ml water, stirred and filtered.2ml of ferric chloride was added to the filtrate. Blue –black precipitate was observed for tannins and phenols.

Test for terpenoids:

To 2ml of powder solution, 2ml of acetic anhydride and few drops of concentrated H₂SO₄ was added. Blue green ring indicated the presence of terpenoids.

Macroscopic Characters:

Physical characteristic features of different plant parts like colour odour, taste etc were determined.

Table No-1 Phytochemical screening report

Contents	Aerial Roots	Leaves	Stem Bark
Alkaloids	++	+	+
Amino acids	-	-	-
Cardiac glycosides	-	-	-
Carbohydrates	++	++	++
Flavanoids	+	++	++
Phenols	+	++	+
Saponins	+	+	++
Sterols	++	++
Tannins	++	++	+
Terpenoids	+	++	+

+ Present; ++More Quantity; -Absent

Table No-2 Aerial Roots

S .No	Features	Observations
1	Colour	Dark brown
2	Odour	Odourless
3	Taste	Bland
4	Shape	Cylindrical
5	Texture	Smooth

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Results of phytochemical screening:

The results of phytochemical screening of aerial roots ,leaf and stem bark aqueous extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavanoids phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids in the root and leaf fractions as shown in table no 1.In the stem bark carbohydrates, flavanoids phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids were detected.

Fig no.1 Aerial roots of Ficus dalhousiae Miq.

Table No-3 Leaves:

S .No	Features	Observations
1	Colour	Light green
2	Odour	Aromatic
3	Taste	Bitter
4	Shape	ovate
5	Size	20 cm
6	Margin	Serrulate
7	Surface	Glabrous
8	Apex	obtuse
9	Venation	Reticulate
10	Texture	Smooth

Fig no.2 Leaves of Ficus dalhousiae Miq.

Table No-4 Stem bark

S .No	Features	Observations
1	Colour	Brown
2	Odour	Odourless
3	Taste	Tasteless
4	Shape	Cylindrical
5	Texture	Glabrous

Fig no.3 Stem bark of Ficus dalhousiae Miq

The pharmacological activities of medicinal plants are due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as flavanoids ,sterols, alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, saponins etc.[8] As the plant contains tannin, flavanoids and phenolic compounds, there is possibility of antioxidant property in the plant. The medicinal properties of plants have been explored all over the world due to their antioxidant activity, economic viability and side effects[9]. The phytochemicals play a vital role in preventing renal diseases, cholesterol and carcinomas[10]. The phytochemical screening reports can suggest possible pharmacological activity of the plant in relation of the chemical constituents in the plant to the known group of constituents[11]. The results of macroscopic characters of root, is depicted in table no-2 and fig no.1, leaves in table no 3 and fig no.2,stem bark in table no.4 and fig no.3.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion it can be said that the plant parts like root and leaves have got chemical constituents in a larger amount than in the stem bark. The results of macroscopic analysis can be considered as characteristic features of the plant and can provide help in separating this plant from the other species.

REFERENCES:

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2. Gaurav K, Karthik L, Bhaskara RKV, A Review on Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), Journal of Pharmacy Research, 4(9), 2011, 2963-2966

3. Adeyanju O, Olutayo OO, Michael A, Arifalo KM, Preliminary phytochemical, antimicrobial screening of the leaf extract Pilostigma reticulatum (dc) Hochst, African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 5, 2011, 43-46.

4. Khare C.P. Indian Medicinal Plants an illustrated dictionary. Springer science and Business Media. 266.

5. Flora of the presidency Madras. Vol-III, Reprinted Edition -1957.

6. Siddiqui S, Verma A, Rather AA, Jabeen F, Meghvansi MK, Preliminary Phytochemicals Analysis of Some Important Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Advances in Biological Research, 3, 2009, 188-195.

7. Edeoga HO, Okwu DE, Mbaebie BO, Phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal Plants, African Journal of Biotechnology, 4, 2005, 685-688.

8. Muhammad Qasim et al. Journal of Pharmacy Research 2011;4(12):4402-4403

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10. Abulude FO, Ogunkoya MO, Akinjagunla YS, Phytochemical Screening of Leaves and Stem of Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentate), EJEAFChe, 9, 2010, 815-819

11. Arcanjo DDR, Albuquerque ACM, Neto BM, Santana LCLR, Silva NCB, Moita MM, Medeiros MGF, Soares MJS, Citó AMGL, Phytochemical screening and evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial and cardiovascular effects of Gomphrena globosa L (Amaranthaceae), Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 5, 2011, 2006-2010.

Received on 11.09.2014 Modified on 30.09.2014

Res. J. Pharmacognosy & Phytochem. 7(1): Jan.-Mar. 2015; Page 09-12

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4385.2015.00003.5