Phytochemical investigations on the therapeutic properties of Ensete glaucum (Roxb.) Cheesman

Abstract

The traditional <em>Khasi</em> tribal community of North-East India cite the use of pseudostem sap from <em>Ensete glaucum </em>(Roxb.) Cheesman for therapeutic purpose, especially for diarrhoea. This preliminary study has been conducted to evaluate the curative properties of <em>Ensete glaucum</em> pseudostem sap by screening for the presence of amino acids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, reducing sugars, starch, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and oils and fats. Standard tests confirmed the presence of flavonoids, reducing sugars, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids, which together contribute to the curative property of the sap as discussed. Polyphenol content was found to be 10.59 mg GAE mL^-1 and total antioxidant capacity estimated is 54.538 mg AAE mL^-1, whereas, total flavonoids were measured at 2.52 mg QE mL^-1of fresh sap.