Abstract

Plants have been used from ancient times in India for various systems of medicine like ayurveda, unani, homoeopathy, allopathy, siddha, ethnic, etc., to attempt cares for diseases and to relieve physical and mental sufferings. The aim of the study was to ascertain multiple usages of Uraria lagopoides in the outskirts of Mayurjharna and presence of phytochemicals in leaves and roots through standard tests for metabolites by extracting methanolic and aqueous solutions. Flavonoid and phenolic content in the extract were also determined by UV-visible spectrophotometer. U. lagopoides, a trailing perennial herb, was found to be the most important plant by the Santhal, Munda and Lodha ethnic community with a ‘use value’ of 1.85. Intensive exploration of U. lagopoides affirms that the plant has multipurpose use against various diseases viz. wound healing, anti-inflamatory, anti-diarrhoea, abortifacient, laxative, aphrodisiac and others. The methanolic extract reveals the presence of tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, steroids, and saponins whereas aqueous extract shows positivity of tannins, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and saponins. The flavonoid contents in U. lagopoides leaves and roots were 145.68 (±5.80) and 178.93 (±0.05) μg of quercetin per mg of dry extract, respectively. The phenolic content in leaves and roots were 43.073 (±1.36) and 40.195 (±2.13) μg of pyrrocatechol equivalent per mg of dry extract. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative screening confirms the presence of multiple metabolites which also commensurate the multiple usage of the roots and leaves of U. lagopoides.              

Key words: Ailments, indigenous, medicinal plants, metabolites, Uraria lagopoides.