Pharmacognostical and phytochemical evaluation of the plant materials

Schleichera oleosa (Lour) Oken is a member of the family Sapindaceae, is medium to large size tree widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of India. The present study aims to investigate the macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical parameter, fluorescence, preliminary phytochemical screening and thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the leaves of the plant. The extractive values, physicochemical parameters such as total, acid-insoluble, water-soluble and sulfated ash values and moisture content of the leaf powder of S.oleosa were found to be 9.06 %, 7.16 %, 5.73 %, 13.5%, and 5.21% respectively. The fluorescent characteristics of leaf powder with various chemical reagents were noted under visible light and UV light. Percent yield of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts were 3.26%, 1.35%, 1.70%, 7.73% & 4.21% respectively. A significant amount of phenolic and flavonoid content were observed. The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins and steroids in ethanolic and aqueous extracts. These extracts were preceded for TLC to find the constituents.