Phyto-Physicochemical Investigation of Leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng belongs to family Lamiaceae and known as country borage in English. It is large succulent aromatic perennial herb, shrubby below, hispidly villous or tomentose. It is found throughout India, Sri Lanka and Moluccas. The leaves of the plant are bitter, acrid and were being widely used traditionally for various purposes. The present study was therefore carried out to provide requisite pharmacognostic details about the leaf. The leaf was characterized for its physico-chemical properties. The shade dried powder of leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng was subjected to successive extraction using the solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and water) in the increasing order of polarity. The preliminary phytochemical analysis and Thin Layer Chromatography has been performed. It was found that the leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, quinone, tannins, phenolic compounds and terpenoids. The findings will be useful towards establishing pharmacognostic standards for identification, purity, quality and preparation of monograph of the plant.