Senna alata is an ethnomedicinal plant. The crude extracts of the plants are
said to have a large number of medicinal properties due to their phytochemicals. In the
present study, we made an attempt to isolate and screen the phytochemical constituents
present in the species. In order to determine the bioactive constituents present in S.
alata, and the effect of drying on the loss of bioactive constituents, studies on a set of
pharmacognostical parameters were conducted on seeds, shade and sun-dried leaves of
S. alata as per US pharmacopeia and WHO guidelines. The results of the present
studies showed the presence of various important bioactive molecules that are
responsible for the medicinal properties of the species. The phytochemical analysis of
seed extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins,
anthraquinones, resins and glycosides in all the extracts, while coumarins, phenols,
terpenoids, phlobatannins and quinines are completely absent in all the seed extracts.
Preliminary phytochemical investigations from shade and sun-dried leaf extracts
showed alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, saponins, glycosides and tannins in high
amounts in all the extracts, resins and phenols are present in moderate amounts.
Terpenoids and phlobatannins are present only in fresh leaf extracts. Studies were also
conducted on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of leaves of S. alata that
help in the identification and standardization of the leaf extracts for manufacturing of
plant-based drugs of S. alata.
Keywords: Bioactive components, Leaf extracts, Preliminary phytochemical screening, Senna alata, Sun-dried, Shade dried.
