Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of Seed Extract of Vigna radiata from Bhopal District (M.P.)

Abstract

Vigna radiata, the seed of moong bean (a common pulse), is majorly rich in nutrients with biological activities. It has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of diseases. The aim of the present study was to perform preliminary pharmacological and phytochemical research of moong bean seeds. Various physicochemical parameters including extractive values and ash values of moong bean seeds were found. The powdered seeds were subjected to successive extractions using different solvents with respect to increasing order of their polarities. This was followed by phytochemical screening of the extracts to identify the various phytochemical constituents present. Chemical constituents present in the extract were flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, saponins, glycosides, steroids and triterpenoids. Thus, these pharmacological and phytochemical characteristics studied may help in standardization, isolation, identification of the various bioactive components with the goal of providing scientific evidence for better application of this commonly used food as a medicine.