Abstract

A REVIEW OF PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY OF PLEUROTUS FLORIDA.

Chinchu Sara George*, Honey Haridas, Ashly Jose, Devika Krishnan, Jayachandran T. P.

Abstract

Mushrooms are widely used as food supplement not only due to their nutritional values but also their medicinal values. Phytochemistry explains that all plants produce chemical compounds as a part of their normal metabolic activity. Phytochemicals can be extensively divided into: a) Primary metabolites such as sugars and fats, which are found in all plants. b) Secondary metabolites-compounds which are found in smaller range of plants. It is the secondary metabolites in plants that can have therapeutic actions in humans and which can be refined to produce drugs. The aim of this work was to carry out the phytochemical screening of aqueous extract to identify the chemical constituents present and to carry out pharmacognostic studies so as to determine the level of adulterants, moisture content, tannins, extractive value using various solvents and analyze the presence of phytochemical constituents in extract of Pleurotus florida due to which they possess different pharmacological activities and also with a goal of increasing awareness of the beneficial effects of edible mushrooms. Aqueous extract of Pleurotus florida fruiting bodies was prepared by decoction in hot water .This was further studied for their Organoleptic, physiochemical, phytochemical, powder characteristics. Less ash value showed a minimum level of contamination, extractive value indicated the level of adulteration, Average particle size was determined by sieving method, phytochemical screening was performed using standard chemical reagents and presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, flavanoids, tannins and phenols were confirmed.

Keywords: Pleurotus florida, pharmacognostic study, secondary metabolites.