A comparative physicochemical and phytochemical study of whole plant of Sphaeranthus indicus linn collected from different geographical regions of central India

Abstract

Background: Phytochemicals are secondary metabolite produced of all plants, where some plants have medicinal
uses. Sphaeranthus indicus Linn is an important medicinal plant belongs to the family Asteraceae and its parts used
to cure various illnesses. Aim: The aim of present study is to compare the physicochemical and phytochemical
analysis of three S. indicus plants collected from Rajgarh, Nagda, and Rewa region of central India, this study
is first investigation on this plant. Materials and Methods: The study includes physicochemical organoleptic
evaluation and phytochemical screening of S. indicus. The physicochemical parameters assessed were within
WHO limits, apart from these 17 phytochemicals were tested and the crude extracts were prepared in petroleum
ether, chloroform, ethanol and chloroform water by soxhlation method. Results and Discussion: S. indicus plant
extracts collected from Rajgarh region showed the highest phytoconstituents as compared to Nagda and Rewa
region and the lowest were found in Nagda region. In contrast proteins, amino acids, anthraquinones/emodins,
and anthocyanins were found to be completely absent in plants samples. Conclusions: From this study, one can
collect the plants from the region where it’s showing maximum concentration of phytochemicals and gives scope
of investigation to extract pure compound and preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that
will serve the society.