TLC profiling and phytochemical screening of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle– an endangered medicinal plant

Plants are a tremendous source for the discovery of new products of medicinal value for drug development. Today several distinct chemicals derived from plants are important drugs currently used in one or more countries in the world. Podophyllum hexandrum contains several lignans which possess antitumor activity. Podophyllotoxin is the most active cytotoxic natural product. It is used as starting compound for the synthesis of anticancer drug etoposide and tenoposide. These drugs are used for lung cancer, testicular cancer, neuroblastoma, hepatoma and other tumours. The plant is an endangered species and is included in the Red Book. Preliminary TLC profiling and phytochemical screenings were carried out on the rhizome and leaf extracts of this plant. The qualification of podophyllotoxin was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) with R_f values of 0.85 (leaf) and 0.94 (root) when compared with the standard. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenols, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and terpenes in seed, leaf and rhizome extracts (ethyl acetate and methanolic). However seed and leaf extracts of P hexandrum showed the absence of saponins.