Phytochemical screening of plant extracts and GC-MS analysis of n-Hexane soluble part of crude chloroform extract of Cuscuta reflexa (Roxb.)

The phytochemical constituent of chloroform and methanol extracts of Cuscuta reflexa (whole plant) was identified by phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques. Qualitative analysis of the plant sample revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and cumarins in both the extracts, but flavonoids, alkaloids, saponines and tannins are present only in methanol extract. The GC-MS analysis of n-hexane soluble part of chloroform extract of C. reflexa revealed eight major peaks with comparatively higher peak area due to Tetrapentacontane (29.98%), Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite (20.87%), Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (13.40%), 7,9-Di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4,5)deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione (2.66%), 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2.62%), Dotriacontane (2.31%), Eicosane (2.28%) and 4,6-dimethyl-dodecane (2.17%). Overall, the study summarizes the information regarding the presence of pharmaceutically important bioactive constituents.