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Phytochemical Screening and Trace Element Analysis of Diospyros virginiana
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The present study was aimed to investigate the preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves and bark of Diospyros virginiana belonging to family Ebenaceae. The dried leaves and bark of the plant were subjected to successive Soxhlet extraction by continuous hot percolation method using organic solvents of increasing polarity such as ethanol. Both the extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and it showed the presence of active constituents such as alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol and carbohydrates. Heavy metals and inorganic elements are determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy technique. The results obtained shows that the extracts contain medicinally important bioactive constituents and also heavy metals present in the plant extracts were within the permissible limits. The results showed that the plants hold tremendous promise in providing the variable secondary metabolites and mineral supply that could enhance the curative process of ill health.
Keywords
Diospyros virginiana, Phytochemical Screening, Heavy Metal and Inorganic Element Analysis.
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