Phytochemical investigation on Tinospora cordifolia and Alstonia scholaris

Plants are an essential source of many therapeutics and play an important role in human health. Therefore, this study was aimed toward the comparative study of two medicinally important plants, Alstonia scholaris and Tinospora cordifolia. Phytochemical screening was performed on the plants for the detection of saponin, tannin, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, quinones, phenols, lignin, carbohydrate, protein, phalobatannins, phytosterol, oils and fats. Moreover, the plants were also analyzed for the presence of vitamins and the abundance of some other crucial phytochemicals was also estimated along with amino acids. The comparative results suggest that vitamins A and C were present in T. cordifolia whereas A. scholaris only possessed vitamin C. Total of eight amino acids were observed in A. scholaris in contrast nine were detected in T. cordifolia. The amino acid content of the plants was different, however, methionine was present in both. Kjeldahl’s method was used for the evaluation of nitrogen and protein content. A. scholaris showed higher nitrogen and protein content than T. cordifolia. Among phytochemicalcarbohydrates, saponin and tannin in K₃Fe(CN)₆ solution were present in greater quantity in T. cordifolia whereas A. scholaris had a higher content of phenols, alkaloids and tannin in FeCl₃ solution.