Phytochemical Investigation of Methanolic Extract of Enhydra Fluctuans (Fam- Asteraceae)

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the phytochemical properties of methanolic extracts of Enhydra fluctuans, a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The phytochemical evaluation was carried out by performing several test TLCs, preparative TLC, & IR test. Enhydra fluctuans,a tropical herb, commonly known as helencha or harkuch,belonging to family Asteraceae, is gaining lot of importance for its therapeutic potentials. This is an edible semi-aquatic herbaceous vegetable plant with serrate leaves, grows in abundant quantiy in Bangladesh. The leaves are slightly bitter, cure inflammation, skin diseases, laxative,bronchitis, nervous affection, leucoderma, biliousness and good in small pox. The plant possesses nutritional value including- _- carotene, saponins, cholesterol, glucoside, enhydrin and so on. It is reported that plant possesses Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, CNS Depressant, Analgesic and Antidiarrheal activity.Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a mature and very established technique, frequently used in many fields of applications ranging from natural product analysis to chemical or pharmaceutical applications. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identifies chemical bonds in a molecule by producing an infrared absorption spectrum. The spectra produce a profile of the sample, a distinctive molecular fingerprint that can be used to screen and scan samples for many different components. FTIR is an effective analytical instrument for detecting functional groups and characterizing covalent bonding information. TLC & IR test performed to investigate bioactive natural compounds from E. fluctuansand to investigate the crystals obtained from the crude extract of the plant .Some bands were observed through these tests.