Research Article PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF TAVERNIERA CUNEIFOLIA (ROTH.) ARN. – A POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE OF GLYCYRRIZHA GLABRA L. POONAM S. MANGALORKAR 1 , SUNITA SHAILAJAN 2 , BRIJESH NOTANI 3 , AND PADAMNABHI S. NAGAR* 1 1 The Maharaja Sayajorao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, 2 Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 3 Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Received: 15 Jun 2012, Revised and Accepted: 29 July 2012 ABSTRACT The present communication evaluates the physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical properties of Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth.) Arn. The roots of T. cuneifolia has been considered as a potential substitute of Glycyrrhiza glabra, popularly known as Indian Licorice. However, there is no detailed standardized work done so far. The results revealed that the concentration of all the heavy metals were below the WHO/FDA permissible limits. Escherichia coli, Salmonella Spp. were found to be absent. Total ash value content was 6.75 %, water soluble ash was 2.61% and sulphated ash was 3.02%. The water soluble extractive value indicated the presence of sugar, acids and inorganic compounds. The alcohol soluble extractive values indicated the presence of phenols, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids. Keywords: Taverniera cuneifolia, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Licorice, Heavy metals, Physicochemical studies, Phytochemical qualitative test. INTRODUCTION Since origin of human’s life plants continue to play a curative and therapeutic role in preserving human health against diseases 1 . Today we find a renewed interest in traditional medicines. Traditional ecological knowledge is associated with biodiversity research, bioprospecting, and cultural conservation 1,2,3,4 . In this context, India being a subtropical country is a good repository of plants that are widely used in the preparation of herbal therapies. In this communication one such plant is selected which is traditionally used by the tribal’s of Saurashtra region, in Gujarat. The genus Taverniera belongs to the family of Fabaceae and includes twelve species. It is endemic to the Northeast African and Southwest Asian countries 1 . T. cuneifolia is often referred to as Indian licorice owing to its sweet taste which is very similar to that of G. glabra 2 . T. cuneifolia is locally known as Jethimadh and it is used by the tribal’s of Barda Hills of Jamnagar in Western India. It is used as a substitute of Licorice or in other words the plant itself is considered to be G. glabra 2 . It is traditionally known to be used as an expectorant, blood purifier, anti- inflammatory, wound healing, antiulcer and in treating spleen tumors 2 . T. cuneifolia is a much branched undershrub, 1-2 ft high. Leaves 1-3 foliate, stipules scarious, triangular, acute, deciduous one which is opposite the leaf. Leaflet obovate, thick glaucous, mucronulate. Flowers axillary, 2-6 flowered raceme longer than the leaves. Calyx finely pubescent, teeth triangular, acute. Corolla purplish pink in colour, standard obovate-orbicular, slightly longer than keel, glabrous, veined with dark purple parallel veins, emarginate, pods with 1-2 seeded joints, joints ovoid, echinate 2 . MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection and processing of plant samples: The plant material was collected from Munjka village, Near Saurashtra University Campus, Rajkot and Rosy port area, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. The plant material was authenticated at BSI (Botanical Survey of India) Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Ref.no. BSI/AZC I.12012/ Tech./2011-12 (PL.ID)-55. The shade dried roots were used for the investigation of qualitative phytochemical test, physicochemical tests and microbial contamination. Qualitative Phytochemical Tests Procedure for HPTLC Analysis 1g of plant sample was accurately weighed, placed in a stoppered tube and 10 ml of methanol (solvent) was added, vortexed for 2 min and left to stand overnight at room temperature (28±2ºC). The contents of the tube were filtered through Whatmann No. 41 paper (E. Merck, Mumbai, India) and the filtrate was used as stock solution for further analysis. Same procedure was applied for other solvents like chloroform, ethyl acetate, toluene as well. Sample Volume 10 µl of methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and toluene extract was spotted as track1 (T1), track 2 (T2), track 3 (T3) and track 4 (T4) respectively. Chromatographic Conditions Instrument CAMAG HPTLC system comprising of Linomat IV Spotter, Scanner II, CAMAG CATS 3 software. TLC Plate used was Silica gel 60 F254. Mobile Phase employed was n-butanol: Acetic acid: Water (7: 1: 2). The saturation time was 30 min. Detection wavelength was UV-254 nm and UV-366 nm Derivatising agent Liebermann Burchard Reagent - 5 mL acetic anhydride + 5 mL Conc. H2SO4 + 50 mL Absolute Ethanol (prepared under cooling ice). All the tests were performed according to the following test 2 : Alkaloids Dragendorff’s test Flavonoid Shinoda test Tannin Neutral FeCl3 Protein Biuret test Carbohydrate Molisch’s test Reducing sugar Fehling’s test Saponin Foam test Resin Acetic anhydride test Phenol Neutral FeCl3 Terpenoids Leibermanburchard test                                            