All About Phytochemicals

 

 

PHYTOCHEMICALS 

Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. They are nonessential nutrients, meaning that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life. It is well-known that plant produce these chemicals to protect themselves but recent research demonstrate that they can also protect humans against diseases. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. Some of the well-known phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes, isoflavones in soy and flavanoids in fruits. 

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING

Phytochemical screening is a process of tracing plant constituents. For example you want to found out if a certain plant contains alkaloids (a plant constituent) then, you will be performing a phytochemical screening procedures for alkaloids (in this case mayer's and Wagner's test). There are general plant constituents that can be performed with a standard test. And these are screenig for:  Alkaloids  Saponin glycosides  Cardenolides and Bufadionolides  Flavonoids  Tannins and Polyphenolic compounds  Anthraquinones  Cyanogenic glycosides  Carbohydrates  Fixed oils, Fats, and Volatile oils.

Alkaloids
 In Determinig the presence or absence of alkaloids, Mayer’s reagent test was used. It is a mixture of mercuric chloride solution and potassium iodide solution. Alkaloid is present if there is a formation of green or white precipitations

Carbohydrates 
To determine if carbohydrates were present, Molisch’s reagent is used. It was prepared by mixing naphthol and ethanol. Carbohydrates were present if there is a formation of red or purple when the extract was mixed with Molisch’s reagent.

 Glycosides 
In testing the presence of glycosides, acetic acid and ferric chloride was used. There is a presence of glycosides if the color of the mixture extract and reagent became blue-green. 

 Saponins 
To test of Saponins were present on the extract, ditilled water was added and then chook for fifteen minutes. When there is a formation of foam or frothy bubbles on the mixture, it indicates that saponins were present. Phenols The picture shows that traces of Phenols were present in the extract. The brown extract changes into the green color.The formation of blue or green color indicates the presence of phenols. 

 Tannins 
To determine the presence of tannins, ferric chloride solution was used. When there is a formation of dark blue or greenish black color indicates the presence of tannins.

 Anthocyanin 
The presence or absence of anthocyanin as determined by the use of sodium hydroxide solution., when there is a formation of blue or green precipitates. It indicates that anthocyanin Is present.

 Protein 
The formation of yellow, yellow-green or light green color when the extract was mixed with nitric acid indicates the presence of protein.