A Study on Phytochemical Profiling of Ocimum sanctum Linn. Extracts from different locations of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Herbal plants or Folk medicines have been long used as a medication since classical times for the treatment of the majority of diseases. Folk plants used to enact a very significant role in world health. Synthetic drugs are not only expensive and inadequate for the treatment of diseases but also often associated with adulterations and side effects. Hence, we aimed to study the phytochemical profiling of “Ocimum sanctum Linn” one of the most important medicinally valued herb in West Bengal region of India. The O. sanctum plants were collected from different geographical locations of West Bengal, India, and subjected to successive solvent extraction by continuous hot extraction (Soxhlet) method with different solvents viz. methanol, ethanol, acetone, chloroform, and hexane for the preparation of different polarity O. sanctum extracts. Results depicted that the methanol solvent extracts of O. sanctum yielded highest extractive value i.e., 8.20%. The ethanol solvent extract of O. sanctum yielded highest polyphenolic content of 14.30 mg GAE /g extract, and the flavonoid content was found to be highest of 9.20 mg QE/g extract in acetone extract. The highest quantity of total ash content (3.20%) and acid-insoluble ash content (0.90%) was observed acetone extract of O. sanctum. Whereas, water-soluble ash content was found to be highest (2.50%) in hexane extract of O. sanctum. The hexane solvent extract of O. sanctum yielded highest total essential oil i.e., 1.10%. The highest quantities of photosynthetic pigments viz. total carotenoids (0.30 mg/g), anthocyanin (0.15 mg/g), Chlorophyll (Chl)a (0.55 mg/g), Chl b (0.28 mg/g), and total Chl II (0.83 mg/g) were observed in hexane extract of O sanctum. In conclusion, our study findings on O. sanctum extracts phytochemical profiling may be established as an excipient to prepare various formulations, and these formulations may be explored for implications in foods, nutrition and human health.