Pharmacognostic and Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of the leaves of Bixa orellana

Various traditional systems of medicine enlightened the importance of the leaves of Bixa orellana (Bixaceae) to have a great medicinal value. The present study was aimed at pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical evaluations of B. orellana leaves. The pharmacognostic investigations were carried out in terms of organoleptic, microscopic and physical parameters. The dried leaves were subjected to successive Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. These solvent extracts were subjected to a preliminary phytochemical screening to detect the different chemical principles present viz., carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, steroids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, proteins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins and glycosides.