PROXIMATE, MINERAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS COLLECTED FROM ORATHUR VILLAGE, THIRUPORUR TALUK KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT TAMILNADU, INDIA

The use of medicinal plants has a long tradition as part of the human diet and has therapeutic agents. That is why they are well accepted by consumers and are generally considered to be environmentally friendly, efficient and generally considered to be safe alternative to antibiotics due to the presence of phytochemicals found in the leaves, stem bark, roots, flowers amongst others. Medicinal plant also possesses nutritional properties and play multiple pharmacological roles such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-helminthic, hepato-protective activity amongst others. This study was aimed at accessing the proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of Tephrosia purpurea, Adhatoda vasica, Crataeva nurvala, Bauhinia racemose, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Aegle marmelos. Result on proximate analysis showed that moisture content varied from 13.57 – 16.02 %, dry matter (83.98 – 86.43 %), crude protein (5.06 – 7.12 %), ash (9.90 – 12.04 %), crude fibre (12.74 – 14.32 %), crude fat (0.10 – 0.22 %) and carbohydrates (40.30 – 50.17 %). Concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, sodium and copper ranged from 120 – 148.0 mg/100g, 180.0 – 300 mg/100g, 66.8 – 94.2 mg/100g, 41.8 – 69.8 mg/100g, 27.9 – 44.6 mg/100g, 119 – 133 mg/100g and 8.21 – 13.1 mg/100g respectively. Quantitative evaluation of tannins showed that values varied from 39.00 – 46.50 mg/g, alkaloids (26.35 – 35.09 mg/g), saponins (20.05 – 30.40 mg/g), flavonoids (66.10 – 86.11 mg/g), terpenoids (40.71 – 45.88 mg/g) and phenols (106.8 – 125.4 mg/g). In conclusion, it was discovered that it contained some essential nutrients in significant quantities. However, values obtained varied due to age of plant, specie, processing method among others. The presence of phytochemicals in these plant suggests that it has pharmacological properties. Accessing the constituent’s in this plants could lead to a novel drug discovery and curb the increasing cases in antimicrobial resistance.