QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MARANTA ARUNDINACEA L. RHIZOME USING HPTLC

The use of plants for the treatment of various ailments has been well authenticated and practiced since age old. During last decades, many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, have been great challenging targets in medical field. Although many synthetic drugs has been in use, their adverse side effects plays a devastating role. Herbs, an ever promising candidate in achieving their role as antioxidants, antimutagens, anticarcinogens are believed to comfort these effects and also to act as a major contributor to the health care. Hence it is obligatory to screen the secondary metabolites, the key factor in therapeutics. Maranta arundinacea .L is a starchy rich rhizomatous tuber. This study focuses on the determination of total phenol,flavonoid and flavonol content and qualitative analysis of the ethanolic extract of M.arundinacea.L rhizomes by HPTLC for analysis of flavonoids, phenolics, steroids, tannins and glycosides. HPTLC profile provides a good lead to carry out the isolation of the active principle from this plant.