Phytochemical screening of Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae)

Scoparia dulcis is a weed commonly known as mithipatti (Odisha) and it is traditionally used in so many complications. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of various Phytoconstituents such as Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Phenols, Flavonoids, Saponin, Proteins and amino acids. However, it also contains small amount of Alkaloids. The physical constant results of total ash, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash values showed the plant has 5.0%, 4.0% and 1.5% ash respectively in crude drug. Extractive value results showed the plant had high percentage (16 %) of methanol soluble extract in comparison to pet. ether extract. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical study was done by using pet-ether and methanol extract. Qualitative test of Methanol extract showed positive result to alkaloid tests, Carbohydrate, Glycoside Saponin, Phenolic compounds, Flavonoids, Protein and amino acid. Pet-ether extract showed positive for all tested chemical constituent except alkaloids, proteins and amino acids. Quantitative estimation of carbohydrate showed 9.92 % of carbohydrate in both phenol and anthrone reagent, 5.27 % of protein, 4.9 % of phenol, 31.3% of ascorbic acid and 0.2% of tannins. Chlorophyll was estimated in a spectrophotometer using the absorption coefficients and the calculated amount of chlorophyll is 1.35 mg total Chlorophyll /g tissue.