Abstract:
Terpenoid contents of traditionally used ethnobotanically important plants (n=25)
were determined. Ethanol extracts of seeds, fruits, pods, branches, bark, rhizome and whole plant parts
were prepared and preliminary phytochemical investigation was carried out. Total terpenoid contents
in ethanol extracts were determined through qualitative and quantitative analytical assay by Salkowski
test. Results of qualitative analysis revealed that the seeds, pods and fruits were rich in terpenoid
contents. Whereas the quantitative analysis of ethanol extract showed that fruit of Carissa carandas
and Lodoicea maldivica seeds of Erysimum cheiri, whole plant of Fagonia arabica and branches of
Withania somnifera had 80% of total terpenoids contents. While, seeds of Ceiba speciosa contained
77%, rhizome of Berberis lyceum, flower of Rosa indica and fruit of Diospyros peregrina had 70% of
total terpenoids contents. Terpenoid contents in all other selected plants ranged from 60 to 40%. This
study would be helpful in the determination of therapeutic bioactive terpenoids that could be isolated
and used for mankind welfare.
