Qualitative Study on the Phytochemical Constituents of the Flower Buds of Bauhinia variegata

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to do qualitative evaluation of phytochemicals present in the flower buds of Bauhinia variegata that belongs to a family “Fabaceae’ which is well known for its scented flowers. The young premature flower buds of the plant were subjected to analysis for its phytochemical constituents as fresh material. The fresh raw flower buds of the plant were macerated and subjected to hot percolation separately. The maceration was carried out for 72 hours with absolute alcohol. The hot percolation (Soxhelt extraction) was carried out in intervals, approximately for 40 hours). The shade dried flower buds were also underwent for maceration and hot percolation separately with absolute alcohol. The extracts were dried over rotary evaporated. After evaporation, the greenish pinkish colour gummy mass was obtained from the fresh flower bud extractions. The evaporated extracts of shade dried flower buds were of greenish gummy mass. Some of the extracts were of greenish yellow and greenish in colour. All evaporated extracts were dissolved and diluted in respective solvents for phytochemical analysis. The qualitative screening of analytical results showed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and carbohydrates in all the extractions. The tests for saponins revealed that this group was not present in any of the solvent extracts. Anthraquinones showed the presence in Flower A and Bud SA only while this group was not present in Flower B, Bud A and Bud B samples.