SCREENING OF PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE LEAVES OF CLINACANTHUS SIAMENSIS BREMEK AND CISSAMPELOS PAREIRA L USED AS ANTIDOTE FOR SNAKE BITE IN INDIGENOUS MEDICINE

Abstract

Objective: The study is aimed to screen the phytochemical constituents of the medicinal plants Clinacanthus siamensis Bremek and Cissampelos pareira L used as anti snake venom in tribal medicine. Methods: The phytochemical compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, anthocyanin, glycosides, reducing sugars, lignins, anthoquinone and alkaloids were extracted by standard methods and compared the components for its antivenom activity. Results: Qualitative analysis of methanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves confirmed the presence of primary metabolites like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and reducing sugars and secondary metabolites like phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, lignins, anthocyanin, anthoquinone and alkaloids. Quantitative estimation of primary and secondary metabolites showed that the presence of proteins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and lipids are more in Cissampelos pareira L when compared to Clinacanthus siamensis B. whereas the phenols and carbohydrates were more in Clinacanthus siamensis B. Conclusion: The study helped in the successful screening of phytochemical constituents which supports the traditional knowledge of the use of the plants as important medicine, as an antidote for poisonous snake bites and in curing various ailments