Evaluation of phytoconstituents of methanolic root extract of withania somnifera.

Abstract

The present research work was designed to identify the phytochemical constituents of methanolic extract of roots of Withania somnifera. Withania somnifera is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medical system of India. It is a member of the family Solanaceae. Therapeutic importance of the different parts of this plant has a long history. Fresh mature roots were shade dried at room temperature, coarse powdered and extracted with methanol by Soxhlet’s extraction method. Thereafter, the extract was concentrated using rotary flash evaporator to obtain semisolid crude extract with the yield of 10.682%. Withania somnifera root extract was investigated for the presence of phytochemical constituents. The preliminary phytochemical evaluation of the Withania somnifera root extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, tannins, steroids and starch.