PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT ON LEAVES OF OCIMUM BASILICUM LINN

Ocimum basilicum (Linn.) belongs to the Labiatae family. It is popularly known as “Kali Tulsi” in Hindi and is reported to have good medicinal values in Indian system of medicines. The present study was aimed at pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract on leaves of Ocimum basilicum. The pharmacognostic investigations were carried out in terms of organoleptic, macroscopy, microscopic and physico-chemical parameters including determination of ash values and extractive values. The preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract on leaves was revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, coumarin and tannins, triterpenoids, phytosterols and saponins. The results of the plant Ocimum basilicum which may furnish a basis of judging the authenticity of the plant and also to differentiate the drug from its allied species and detect adulterants.