Abstract

THE NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA L. PLANT (BUDS)

Deepmala*, Gargi Pachauri, Gaurav Kumar and Nancy

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Abstract

Boerhavia diffusa L. (family Nyctaginaceae) is a most widely studied plant and has a long history of uses by the indigenous & tribal people and in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. The whole plant of B. diffusa are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, stress, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, inflammation, jaundice, enlargement of spleen, heart diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the organoleptic character, phytochemicals, and physico-chemical analysis of buds from Boerhavia diffusa L. (family Nyctaginaceae) plant. An organoliptic research was carried out on the color, taste, fragrance, and physical condition of the component buds of the Boerhaavia diffusa plant. Powder material extracted with water, chloroform and the methanol to identify the phytoconstituents (alkaloid, steroid, amino acid, protein, saponin, and glycoside). The physico-chemical analysis's total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive value, alcohol soluble extractive value, and chloroform extractive value, in addition to the pH values of the 1% and 10% aqueous solutions. Phytochemical screening showed that all of samples positively contain alkaloid, steroids and protein. According to the physico-chemical parameter, the pH values of the 10% aqueous solutions is high. There is 9% total ash and 11.11% acid insoluble ash. Chloroform has a high water soluble extractive value. When various extracts of plants are applied, it indicates that an extensive variety of phytochemicals and physic-chemicals exist in significant quantities in the buds of the Boerhaavia diffusa L. plant.

Keywords: Boerhavia Diffusa, Glycoside, Ph Value, Phytochemicals.