Physicochemical and phytochemical analysis of Euphorbia helioscopia [L.]

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to standardize the crude drug from "Euphorbia helioscopia" by doing qualitative and quantitative analysis of different pulverized plant parts and extracts. Physicochemical analysis [determination of moisture contents, total ash, water insoluble ash, sulphated ash, acid insoluble ash, and water and alcohol extractives] was done on powdered raw materials [stem and leaves]. The moisture contents and the ash value were found within the normal recommended range [moisture contents 6% and ash value 20%]. The value of water-soluble extracts was higher as compared to alcohol soluble extractives. Percentage yield was highest in methanol solvent. The phytochemical analysis i.e. total lipids, total proteins and carbohydrates of crude powder showed that lipids and proteins contents were high [2.4% and 0.91% respectively] in pulverized stem while carbohydrate contents were high [78.27%] in pulverized leaves. Qualitative analysis by FTIR fingerprints and UV-scanning showed that stem and leaves of the plant contained the same constituents because their spectra are super-imposable. Aqueous-, ethanol-, petroleum ether-, chloroform- and methanol extracts were used in the study. Quantitative analysis was done by calculating the primary and secondary metabolites [total proteins, total glycosaponins, total alkaloids, total flavonoids, and total polyphenolics] in all the extracts using suitable markers. Chloroform gave very less percentage yield and nil primary metabolites so it was eliminated from secondary metabolites estimation. The maximum value of total proteins, total glycosaponins, total alkaloids, total flavonoids and total polyphenolics were found in the leaves methanol [36.56%], stem methanol [34%], stem ethanol [41.84%], leaves methanol [108.96%], and leaves petroleum ether [7.22%] respectively. Different pharmacological activities of the plants are due to their flavonoid contents. It is concluded that methanol is the best solvent for extraction. Any arial part of the plant can be used in pharmacological evaluations prior to pre-clinical and clinical studies because leaves and stem had superimposable spectra in FTIR and UV-scanning.