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Preliminary Physico-phytochemical Study of the Fruit of a Medicinal Plant Cassia Fistula L.

Nidhi Saxena, P. N. Shrivastava and R. C. Saxena

Cassia fistula L. is a plant of family Fabaceae and has a great medicinal potential. It is used for the treatment of various diseases and ailments because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. The present communication deals with the macroscopic and preliminary physico-phytochemical studies on the fruit of the plant. The macroscopical studies involved the colour, odour, taste, shape and length of the fruit. The physicochemical parameters viz. loss on drying and ash content were evaluated. Soxhlet extraction of the powdered material of the fruits was done with 90% ethanol and water and the extractive values were evaluated. The extract obtained was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, which indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and glycosides.