Phytochemical evaluation of Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum linn) roots under Konkan condition

Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum Linn) is an important medicinal plant and wild leafy vegetable. It is a deciduous shrub widely distributed more or less throughout India but mostly found in the forests of Western Ghats of India, eastern India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. For qualitative phytochemical evaluation of Bharangi roots, the root samples were collected from eight Talukas of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state. The qualitative phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, steroids, coumarins and cardiac glycosides in all the samples collected from eight Talukas. The present study provides evidence that root extract of C serratum contains medicinally important bioactive compounds that justifies the use of this plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases.