OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 23-Jan-2026 | Pages: 11-30 | Doi : 10.37446/edibook182024/11-30
This chapter presents an in-depth phytochemical investigation of medicinal plants, emphasizing major bioactive groups such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, and phenolic compounds. It documents local names, plant parts and extraction methods, using both classical chemical tests (e.g., Dragendorff’s, Mayer’s, Fehling’s) and advanced techniques such as TLC, HPLC, and NMR. Standardized procedures with characteristic observations are provided to aid herbal drug quality control. The study highlights how plant part selection, geography and solvent choice affect phytochemical yields. Integration of traditional knowledge with modern analytical tools supports drug development, ethnobotanical conservation and validation of medicinal plants for pharmacological use.
Phytochemical screening, Medicinal plants, Secondary metabolites, Chromatographic analysis, Bioactive compounds, Herbal drug standardization
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