Chemical diversity analysis on some selected medicinally important pteridophytes of Western Ghats, India

To study the phyto-constituents present in some selected medicinally important pteridophytes from the Western Ghats, India. The dried and powered leaves materials (50 g) were extracted successively with 250 mL of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, chloroform, acetone, benzene and water by using Soxhlet extractor for 8 h at a temperature not exceeding the boiling point of the solvent. The aqueous extracts were filtered using Whattman filter paper (No.1) and then concentrated in vacuum at 40°C using Rotary evaporator. The residues obtained were stored in a freezer −70°C until further tests. Phytochemical screening of the extracts was carried out according to the standard methods. The present study screened the phytochemical properties of ten plants with sixty six extracts and showed varied degree of phyto-constituents present. The presence or absence of the phyto-constituents depended upon the solvent medium used for extraction and the physiological property of individual taxa. From these results, it can be concluded that the ten plants extracts may be used as broad-spectrum antimicrobial, bioactive agent after extensive investigation.