Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Quantitative Analysis of Crude Extract of Laggera Aurita Linn (Asteraceae)

Abstract

Medicinal plants are source of secondary metabolites which are responsible for therapeutic properties that are usually utilized in the treatment and management of several diseases. These metabolites contain bioactive principles and are usually identified through preliminary phytochemical screening. This study seeks to identify and quantify some of the secondary metabolites obtainable from Laggera aurita. Preliminary phytochemical screening of metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, and
phenols was carried out. The study indicated the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, phytosterols, saponins, and tannins with saponins having the highest yield (37.6%) and phenols being the lowest (0.09%). The crude extract of Laggera aurita contains various phytochemicals which have been shown to have several bioactivities.