Original Research Article

Ethnobotanical Potential and Phytochemical Screening Of Bombex Bombax ceiba L.

ABSTRACT:

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants areis showing important and significant values to the

society. One of the important trees growing in panchmahal region. , Bombex Bombax ceiba, has

immerses medicinal values sited in few literatures. Local populations utilizing various parts of Bombex

ceiba as medicines are to be known scientifically through traditional inputs. The present study was

undertaken to emphasis the secondary metabolites present. In in different parts of Bombex ceiba

growing region in panchmahal, district. Traditional information about ant plant/tree in generally

available related to leaves, trunk, root, fruits, etc. the current study deals with knowledge of flowers

along with thereof Bombex ceiba growing in Panchmahal district. Investigation for qualitative analysis

of thorn, petals & androecium was carried out for the tree Bombex ceiba growing in Panchamaahal

district. Sample of thorns, petals and androcieum were collected during march 2019, from

Panchmahal & were subjected for qualitative analysis of phytochemical parameters.

KEY WORD: Bombex ceiba, traditional uses, phytochemical, thorn, petals, androecium.

INTRODUCTION:

Herbal practitioners are one of the important custodians of indigenous knowledge on utilization of

medicinal plants. Moreover, as a result of their experience they are skilled and have a great talent for

locating and identifying correct plant species amongst many plant species growing in and around

around region. Central Gujarat covers district Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Chhotaudepur and

Vadodara. In one of study of GEER Foundation (6) in which recorded that highest numbers of plant

species (1048) were noted in the state which is about 80% of the entire medicinal species diversity of

the state. Bombex ceiba is a deciduous trees, with grey glabrous bark, and leaves crowded ends of

branches, petiolate, digitately. It has 6-8 cm or more across, sessile crowded, at ends of leafless

branches.. The interesting part of tree, taken for the current study is its flower, which used as an

astringent and are good for skin troubles, splenomegaly, and haemorrhoids. Bombex ceiba is used in

medicinal as well as economic purposes in the region. Tribal community use Bombex ceiba plant to

treat various kinds of disease. There are literatures available for bark of bombex ceiba which shows

its medicinal utility in dysentery, stomachache and vomiting. Leaves of Bombex ceiba are extensively

used in various treatments for debility and anemia. Flowers of Bombex ceiba are being also used in

treating the cancerous as well as paralysis. (13)

Qualitative analysis of flower revealed that flower contains terpenoids, phenolic compounds, tannins,

flavanoid, saponins, glycosides, and carbohydrates by using water extract, ethanol, and acetone.

Total 13 phytochemicals were screened, out of which 11 were observed by using different solvents for

extraction. Phytochemicals found in flower extract of Bombax ceiba indicates their potentiality as a

supply of herbal medicine. The results from the ash value, acid insoluble ash, and water soluble ash

values suggested that the flower contains demonstrable quantity of inorganic salts (28).

Preliminary analysis of bark shows presence of many secondary metabolites such as Alkaloids,

Carbohydrates, Tannins, Steroids, Saponins, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Phenols, Amino acids and

proteins using methanolic extraction. The rich source was Tannin and Flavonoid compound which

plays an important role for preventing diseases (26). The preliminary phytochemical investigation on

Bombex ceiba extracts revealed that the presence of various secondary metabolites such as

carbohydrates, flavones 4and flavanones, tannins, and phenolic compounds, saponins, sterols, and

triterpenoids in all the extracts. Carbohydrates, glycosides, Flavones flavones, and flavanones are

found when petroleum ether, ethanol, and aqueous extraction are used but alkaloid, fixed oils, fats,

gums, and mucilages are totally absent when these extractions are used. (14) Polysaccharide which

are found from flowers has a continuous backbone of 4(1-4)- β-linked D-galactopyranose and 2 (1-3)-

β-linked L-arabinopyranose units with β-linked D- galactose and α-linked rhamnose and L-arabinose

units as end groups Rastogi And Mehrotra, 1990. From Bombax ceiba stem bark Shamimicin,(3, 4-

dihydroxyphenyl)-3, 4-dihydro-3, 7- dihydroxy-5-O -xylopyranosyloxy- 2H-1-benzopyran along with

lupeol were isolated (41).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

STUDY AREA:

Fig 1; (A) Gujarat (B) Panchmahal district

Field survey was conducted in Panchmahal district during 2018-19. For the data collection

interviewed local people were in regional languages and it was conducted with traditional healers and

farmers. Twelve villages were taken for surveying surveyed during field visit.

Fig; 2 Bombex ceiba; (A) Tree (B) Flower

Collection was carried out during March, 2019. Samples of thorn, petals, and androecium were

collected & dried for further used in phytochemical analysis.

Sample preparation: Extraction of thorns, petals & androecium of Bombex ceiba. Were prepared

in two different solvents, viz,. (i) Chloroform extract (CE) and (ii) Acetone water(1:1) extract (AWE).

Plant part were crushed by mortar pestle grinded to powder. The powders were used for preparing

extract in chloroform and acetone:water (1:1). 10 gm. Powder of plant part were subjected to 50 ml of

solvent for 24 hrs. after which it was filtered using whattman filter paper-no 1. The sample prepared

were analyzed for different phytochemical qualitative analysis of various parameters like steroids,

Terpenoids, Amino acids, proteins (30), tannin, Phenolic compounds, coumarin (27),

Phytostetol, Glycosides, Reducing sugar, carbohydrates (4), flavonoids and phiobatannis (1).

Results:

Traditional uses reflect that Bombex ceiba is used in various ways. Thorn and flower petals are used

for skin related problems, and androiceum has different potential uses as food material, it reveals

importants whereas chemical components present in androecium.

Table no. 1: Traditional uses of Bombex ceiba L.

Useful

Part

Traditional

Uses Preparation method

Thorn Curing pimples

Take fresh thorn and crush it with water, this mixture

directly applying on pimple infected skin.

Petals

Soft and bright skin(

during marriage season

in tribal area, particularly

after Holi festival)

Fresh or dry Petals remove from the flowers, crush with

little amount of turmeric powder and water, this mixture

used on face.

Androecium As a food material in

summer season Cooking dry androecium and used as food.

Phytochemical Analysis:

The results of phytochemical analysis showed that Bombax ceiba has good source

of steroid, carbohydrate and phiobatannis in both solvent extracts. In this study three

parts of Bombex ceiba viz., petals, androecium and thorn were taken for

phytochemical analysis.

Qualitative analysis of phytochemical para phytochemical parameters in

acetone:water extract

The results of the qualitative analysis in the acetone:water extract showed that the

presence of steroids, phoiobatannispholobatannis, flavonoids, carbohydrates,

reducing sugars, and phenol compounds were noted to be present in all the three

parts viz., thorn, petals and androecium. The compounds phytostetolphytosterol,

tannin, amino acids, protein, and glycosides were found to be absent in thorns of the

plant, they were observed in other two parts (petals and androecium). Tannin and

protein compounds which showed their presence only in androecium. And petals,

respectively whereas, terpinoides were observed in thorns and androecium.

Table no. 2:

Sr.

No

Phytochemical compound Thorn Petals

Androecium

1. Steroid + + +

2. Phytostetol Phytosterol - + +

3. Tannin - - +

4. CoumerinsCoumarins - - -

5. PhiobatannisPholobatannis + + +

6. Flavonoids + + +

7. Carbohydrate + + +

8. Reducing sugar + + +

9. Amino acids - + +

10. Protein - + -

11. Glycosides - + +

12. Terpenoids + - +

13. Phenols compounds + + +

Total compound 07 10 11

(AWE; Acetone water extract)

Total phytochemical in acetone water extract, thorn 07, where 10 in petals and 11 present in

androecium.

Chart: 1

The results of the qualitative analysis in the chloroform extract showed that the

presence of steroids, cumerinscoumarins, phoiobatannis pholobatannis and

carbohydrates compounds were noted to be present in all the three parts viz., thorn,

petals, and androecium. The compounds phytostetol, tannin, flavonoides, reducing

sugar, amini amino acid, protein, terpinoidsterpenoids, phenols compound, and

glycosides were found to be absent in thorns of the plant, some of them observed in

other two parts (petals and androecium). Tannin and amino acid compounds which

showed their presence only in androecium and petals. petals, respectively whereas,

terpinoides were observed in thorns and androecium.

7

10

11

Phytochemicals in acetone:water extract

Thorn

Petals

Androecium

Table no. 3:

Sr.

No

Qualitative phytochemical

test

Thorn

Petals

Androecium

1. Steroid + + +

2. Phytostetol Phytosterol - - -

3. Tannin - + +

4. CoumerinsCoumarins + + +

5. PhiobatannisPholobatannis + + +

6. Flavonoids - + +

7. Reducing sugar - - -

8. Amino acids - + +

9. Protein - - -

10. Glycosides - - -

11. Terpenoids - - +

12. Phenols compounds - - -

13. Carbohydrates + + +

Total compound 04 07 08

(CE: Chloroform extract)

Chart:2

4

7

8

Phytochemicals in chloroform extract

Thorn

Petals

Androecium

Result shows that in thorn steroid, coumerins, phiobatannis, flavonoids, carbohydrate, reducing sugar,

terpenoids and phenols compounds were present, where , analysis of petals reflect steroid,

phytostetolphytosterol, tannin, coumerinscoumarins, phiobatannispholobatannis, flavonoids,

carbohydrate, reducing sugar, amino acids, protein, glycosides, and phenols compounds, only

terpinoides is not present in petals. Total twelve compounds were present in petals out of thirteen

compounds. The phytochemical analysis of androecium is show, steroid, phytostetolphytosterol,

tannin, coumerinscoumarins, phiobatannispholobatannis, flavonoids, carbohydrate, reducing sugar,

amino acids, glycosides, terpenoids, and phenols compounds, here protein is not present with

respective testes. Petals and androecium has good source of phytochemicals.

Chart: 3 Total number of phytochemical present in particular extracts.

(CE; Chloroform extract, AWE; Acetone:water extract (1:1)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Thorn Petals Androiceum

CE

AWC

Chart: 4 Overview of result

Discussion:

Present study shows the interrelation of traditional uses and plant chemical compound. Thorn, petals

and androecium having good source of phytochemicals, which is widely used in traditional medicine

system and as food material. Present investigation gives strong relationship between the traditional

medicinal importance and the presence and absence of secondary metabolites especially

phytochemical compounds observed in three different parts (Thorn, petals and androecium) of the

same plant species. Considering the numbers of phytochemicals observed in acetone:water extracts,

it showed variation in phytochemical compounds presence of 07 in thorns; 10 in petals and 11 in

androecium. Furthermore, maximum phytochemicals were observed in androecium of Bombex ceiba.

Moreover, the chloroform extract of Bombex ceiba showed less number of phytochemicals in all the

three parts of plant species. Thorns of the plant in chloroform extract showed only presence of four

phytochemicals whereas, nine phytochemicals were observed in chloroform extract of petals &

androecium.

Considering the presence of these secondary metabolites, all the three parts are used as food

source as well as medicine. Hence, the plant Bombex ceiba is considered to be important

ethnomedicine and traditional plant.

Thorn used as Curing pimples, 7

Phytochemical present

Androecium used As a food

material, 11 Phytochemical

present

Petals used for the Soft and

bright skin, 10 Phytochemical

present

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