Pharmacognostic Preparation, Hydroethanolic Extraction and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Apium graveolens L. Leaves
Abstract
Apium graveolens L. (celery) is an aromatic medicinal plant whose leaves contain chemically diverse constituents with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuropharmacological relevance. The reliability of any pharmacological investigation depends first on correct plant authentication, controlled preparation of the raw material, reproducible extraction and preliminary characterization of the resulting extract. This study therefore focused specifically on the collection, authentication, shade drying, powdering, hydroethanolic extraction and qualitative phytochemical screening of A. graveolens leaves. Healthy mature leaves were collected from a local herbal garden, cleaned and authenticated by their characteristic morphological and organoleptic features. The leaves were shade-dried at room temperature, coarsely powdered and stored in airtight containers. One hundred grams of dried powder was extracted with 70% ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus at approximately 60 degrees C for 24 h. The filtrate was concentrated under controlled conditions to yield a dark greenish-brown, aromatic, semisolid extract. The dried extract weighed 12.40 g, corresponding to a percentage yield of 12.40%. Standard qualitative tests were performed for alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins and terpenoids. All eight targeted phytochemical classes were detected; flavonoids and phenolic compounds showed the strongest reactions, whereas alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, tannins, saponins and terpenoids were present at lower qualitative intensity. The findings establish a reproducible preparation procedure and demonstrate that the hydroethanolic leaf extract is rich in secondary metabolites that justify subsequent pharmacological and chromatographic investigation.
How to Cite
Purnima Tiwari, Sushila Kaura, "Pharmacognostic Preparation, Hydroethanolic Extraction and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Apium graveolens L. Leaves", Vol. 3, Issue 7, 25-10-2025, pp. 70-83. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21428568
