Original Articles
Joseph Joselin, Augustian Raja
Abstract
To explore the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and acetone extracts of petals of Cassia siamea Lam., Cassia fistula Linn., Delonix regia Linn. and Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Baker ex. Heyne. Fresh fallen petals (50 g) were collected and 200 ml of water, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and acetone were added in separate conical flasks, which were kept in a shaker at room temperature for 24 hours. After incubation, the extracts were filtered through Whatman No.1 filter paper, and collected and stored at 4°C. The extracts were concentrated using vacuum evaporator and dried at 60°C. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed by the Harborne method. Screening of the petals of C. fistula and D. regia proved the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, coumarins, quinones, phytosterols, proteins and carbohydrates. Alkaloids were found to be absent in petals of D. regia, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides were absent in the petals of P. pterocarpum, and petals of C. siamea were devoid of glycoside and phenolic compounds. The petal extracts studied here can be used as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents after extensive investigation.