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phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, and steroids (Britto and Sebastian, 2012).

Senthilkumar (2018) analysed the preliminary phytochemical analysis of leaf extracts of
Alternanthera sessilis. The organic solvents such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and

ethanol were used for extracting bioactive compounds present in leaf. The phytochemical
tests of the different extracts have revealed the presence of different quantities of alkaloids,

glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and reducing sugars. (Jalalpure
et al., 2008). Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and an

impressive numbers of drugs have been isolated from nature sources. The medicinal plant as

a re-emerging health aid has been fuelled by the rising costs of prescription drugs in the
maintenance of personal health and wellbeing and the bio –prospecting of new plant derived

drugs. (Geyid et al., 2005).

India is rich in medicinal plant diversity. India is rich in all three levels of biodiversity, as
species diversity, genetic diversity and habitat diversity. India has a rich heritage of

knowledge on plant-based drugs both for use in preventive and curative medicines. A country
like India is very much suited for development of drugs from medicinal plants. (Kilani,

2006).
Importance of medical value plants:

Various medicinal plants have been used for years in daily life to treat diseases all

over the world. They have been used as a source of medicine. The widespread use of herbal
remedies and healthcare preparations such as those described in ancient texts like the Vedas

and Bible has been traced to the occurrence of natural products with medicinal properties. In
fat plants produce a diverse range of bioactive molecules making them a rich source of

different types of medicines (Farombi, 2003). (Jalalpure et al., 2008)
The medicinal values of plants lay some substance that produce a definite physiological

action on the human body. The most important substances are the bioactive substances. The

bioactive compounds of plants are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds etc. In
recent years secondary plant metabolites (Phytochemicals), previously with unknown

pharmacological activities have been extensively investigated as a source of medicinal agents

(Krishnaraju et al., 2005)
Objectives

The objectives of the present study was,
1. To study the phytochemical common medicinal plants like Alternanthera sessilis.

2. To observe the presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins,
steroids, terpenoids, tannins, glycosides, reducing sugar, carbohydrates, protein.

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