Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
Dr. M Sakthi Priya, A Jagadeeswaran, MJ Raja, A Natrajan, P Srinivasan and V Ranganathan

Abstract:
Adhathoda vasica commonly known as adosa is a small, evergreen shrub found in India and the world and known for its effectiveness in treating respiratory ailments. The present study was carried out to qualitatively screen phytochemical constituents present in Adhatoda vasica and to isolate and identify an alkaloid vasicine from the plant. Aqueous and methanolic extract of the leaves were prepared and subjected for qualitative phytochemical analysis. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides and cardiac glycosides in aqueous extract and alkaloids, terpenoids, flavanoids, phlobatanins, glycosides and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic extract. A quinazoline alkaloid vasicine was isolated from the leaves of the plant and identified by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. HPTLC revealed the presence of the alkaloid vasicine in the plant sample at a concentration of 1.5 percent. Thus the method was found to be more reliable, simple and easy for identification of vasicine in the plant.