PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING PROTOCOL FOR CHAMPAKA (MICHELIA CHAMPACA LINN) LEAVES

Michelia champaca Linn commonly known as Champaka, is a highly valued medicinal plant in Ayurveda and traditional medicine systems due to its diverse therapeutic properties, including anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective activities. The leaves of Champaka are known to harbor bioactive secondary metabolites that contribute to these pharmacological effects. In the present study, a preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out to evaluate the chemical profile of Champaka leaves using both aqueous and organic solvent extracts. The solvents selected ethanol; methanol, hexane, and chloroform represent a gradient of polarity to ensure a comprehensive extraction of polar, semi polar, and non polar phytoconstituents. Standard qualitative tests were employed to detect the presence of major classes of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, and carbohydrates. The results indicated a distinct distribution of phytochemicals depending on the solvent used. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed a rich presence of polar compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides, highlighting their potential contribution to antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. In contrast, hexane and chloroform extracts predominantly contained non-polar constituents like terpenoids and steroids, which are often associated with anti inflammatory and cytoprotective properties.