A GUIDE TO PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Plants are a very important source of nutrients and a very important part in the human diet. They provide us carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, cholesterol lowering compounds, antioxidants and other important sources of biologically active substances. Many nutritional values of plants have been discussed in the literature but there is very limited research in the biologically active compounds that are present in them. These biologically active compounds are called as phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are derived from every part of the plant including roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds etc. These phytochemicals are sometimes used as such and in some cases they form the raw materials for a variety of other medicinally important compounds. In this paper we will be discussing about the different methods for the collection, processing, extraction of the phytochemicals from the different plants and also the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals that are present in the same.