Phytopharmacological study of Red, White and Black variety of Abrus precatorius L.

Abrus precatorius L. is a leguminous plant of family fabaceae. Plant parts are widely used for medicinal purpose in different region of the world. Seed behavior and phytochemical evaluation of different solvent extracts (i.e. Petroleum ether, Ethyl acetate, Methanol & Water) of leaf and seed of red, white and black varieties of Abrus precatorius L. is carried out in the present study. This study indicates presence of different phytoconstituents i.e. alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, proteins, etc. the present study concludes that the plant parts can be used as very good natural remedy to diagnosed variety of dieses.


INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases, from the dawn of civilization [1]. India is one of the largest producers of herbs and herbal products. Nature around us provided everything of necessity of mankind. The large resources of vegetables, medicinal plants have been used continuously for the treatment of various diseases [2]. Medicinal plants can be important source of previously unknown chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. Herbal medicines are in great demand in the developed as well as developing countries for primary healthcare because of their wide biological and medicinal activities, higher safety margins and lesser costs [4].
Abrus precatorius is a medium sized tree distributed throughout India which is reputed to possess medicinal properties [5]. Abrus precatorius L. is a weedy subtropical vine with leaves that are known to be sweet-tasting [6]. Sweetness of the plant is due to the presence of sweet-tasting oleanane glycoside, glycyrrhizin, cycloartane glycosides, designated abrusosides A-D. Last four compounds have been rated as being 30-100 times more potently sweet than sucrose on a weight basis [7,8].

1. Collection, Identification and Authentication of Plant Material
Materials for the study i.e. Leaf & seeds of Red, white and Black Abrus precatorius were harvested from the Girnar forest and chorvad region of Junagadh district, Gujarat (India) in the month of September. The materials were identified and authenticated as Abrus precatorius from Department of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat.

Preparation of different solvent Extracts
The materials of all Abrus precatorius varieties were washed with tap water, dried and powdered. These powdered materials were then used for extraction with different solvents, ranging in polarity i.e. petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water in the soxhlet apparatus at 60 ºC to 70 ºC for about 9 hours. After the completion of extraction, the extract was concentrated and allowed to evaporate at room temperature for overnight and for water extracts are allowed to evaporate in an oven at 50 ºC for overnight to get colored viscous gummy residues. These residues were then used for subsequent experiments.

3. Soxhlet Extraction
The powdered material (15.0 g) was collected in the thimble and extraction started with petroleum ether for 9 h. At the end, the solvent was collected in a Petri dish allowed it to evaporate to dryness. Remaining residues are further extracted similarly with Ethyl acetate, Methanol and water for 9 h. The final residues were used for subsequent experiments.  International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 14

4. Phytochemical investigations
Behavior of seed powder with different chemical reagents [19]

4. 3. Test for steroids and sterols
 Lieberman-Burchard test: Extract + 2 ml chloroform in dried test tube + 10 drops acetic anhydride + 2 drops conc. sulphuric acid will produce changes in color from red to blue and blue to bluish green.  Salwoski test: Extract + few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid. Gives bluish red to cherry red color in chloroform layer.

4. 5. Test for saponins
 Foaming test: Foams produces when extract shake with water.

RESULT & DISCUSSION
Flavanoids Shinoda test

Steroids & Sterols
Lieberman -Burchard test Behavior of seed powder of all three varieties with different chemical reagent shows presence of alkaloids, flavanoids, steroids and protein in the red seed powder while in white and black seed, steroids were absent. It also shows absence of anthraquinones in all the varieties (

CONCLUSION
In the present study, preliminary phytochemical analysis and seed behavior has been studied. These analysis shows presence of alkaloids, flavanoids, steroids, proteins, glycosides etc. these phytoconstituents are very effective against many diseases. The presence study concludes that as it contains many potent phytochemicals, this plant can be used as natural remedy against many diseases.