Abstract

Nature has given rise to medicinal agents for thousands of years. Various medicinal plants have been used for years in daily life to treat the disease all over the world. The therapeutic use of herbs is as old as human civilization and has evolved along with it. Medicinal plant drug discovery continues to provide new and important leads against various effects like cancer, malaria, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. Interest in herbal drugs and natural medicine is undergoing a renaissance now. The curative properties of plants are due to the presence of active principles such as alkaloids, phenolics, tannins and flavonoids that constitute of many pharmacologically active compounds. The aim of the present study was to know about the physico-chemical evaluation of the extract, phytochemical screening and quantification of primary and secondary metabolites in the Nelumbo nucifera petal extract. The results obtained in the present study reveal the following: physico-chemical parameters show a good result in Nelumbo nucifera petal extract and can be used for the formulation of the drug. phytochemical screening and quantification of primary and secondary metabolites in the Nelumbo nucifera petal extract shows the presence of primary metabolites viz., carbohydrates, proteins and lipids and the secondary metabolites such as tannins, phenols flavonoids and alkaloids on phytochemical screening. Quantification of primary metabolites of the extract shows its nutritive value and the secondary metabolites were responsible for its medicinal properties of the petals of the Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn that was used by the traditional herbalists. Finally, the present finding of the study concludes, that the hydro ethanolic Nelumbo nucifera petal extract possess abundant phytochemicals, which act as a source of natural antioxidants having a great importance in preventing various diseases and further study was needed to find out the active principle present in the Nelumbo nucifera petals.