Research Article
Ramnivas Rangheetha, Malaiswam
Abstract
Plants are exploited as medicinal source since ancient age. A large number of medicinal plants and their purified constituents have shown beneficial therapeutic potentials. Evaluation of the local flora exploited in traditional medicine for various biological activities is a necessary first step in the isolation and characterization of the active principle and further leading to drug development. In this aspect, Hemigraphis alternata (Burm.f.) T. Anderson was shown to possess many medicinal properties. The phytochemical constituents of H. alternata leaf extract was evaluated. The hot water leaf extract of H. alternata showed the presence of steroids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenol, proteins and amino acids. The cold water extract of H. alternata (leaf) showed the presence of carbohydrates and tannins. Numerous phytochemicals were found to be preserved by the hot water extract which could be recommended for curing human ailments.