Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preliminary Phytochemical and Physicochemical Characterization of Gynura segetum (Lour) Merr (Compositae) Leaf

Lay Jing Seow , Hooi Kheng Beh, Amirin Sadikun, Mohd Zaini Asmawi

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia;

For correspondence:- Lay Seow Email: layjing80@yahoo.com Tel:+6046533888

Received: 12 August 2012 Accepted: 12 July 2013 Published: 18 October 2013

Citation: Seow LJ, Beh HK, Sadikun A, Asmawi MZ. Preliminary Phytochemical and Physicochemical Characterization of Gynura segetum (Lour) Merr (Compositae) Leaf. Trop J Pharm Res 2013; 12(5):777-782 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v12i5.18

© 2013 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To carry out phytochemical and physicochemical studies on the leaves of Gynura segetum.

Methods: Preliminary phytochemical and physicochemical studies using chromatographic techniques,were carried out, Parameters evaluated include ash value, loss on drying and extractive value, amongst others.

Results: Phytochemical results revealed that the leaves of Gynura segetum contain alkaloid, terpene, flavonoid, tannin and saponin. Mean ash value (%) was 13.5 (total), 2.49 (acid-insoluble ash) and 6.14 (water-soluble ash). Loss on drying was 10.70 % while extractive value was 20.60 % in water and 14.13 % in ethanol. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis indicates the presence of rutin in the methanol extract of G. segetum and this was supported by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) studies.

Conclusion: Useful quantitative and descriptive data essential for identifying and characterizing the plant for the purpose of quality control are presented.

Keywords: Gynura segetum, Quality control, Extractive, Ash value