Boerhaavia diffusa

Boerhaavia diffusa (punarnava), a member of the Nyctaginaceae family, is a well-known plant in India for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. The present study was conducted to identify the novel compounds based on the novel medicinal properties of the plant. Preliminary phytochemical screening, TLC, and GC-MS-based chromatographic analysis of an acetone extract from Boerhaavia diffusa. Resulted in the detection of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, and glycosides in the plants. Compounds were studied through TLC using solvents mixture as a mobile phase in the ratio chloroform: methanol: ammonia (2:2:1) at 254 and 365 nm.The GC-MS analysis of Boerhaavia diffusa resulted in detail of more than 200 compounds present in different peaks. All of them were cross-checked at various online compound databases such as Pubchem, and Drug bank for the identification of their biological activities, if already reported. Mainly 25 compounds (falling in 50.10% peak area) like 2-None-1-ol, (E)-, (Z)-, trans-2-Undecen-1-ol, 2-Propylcyclohexanol, Ethanol pentamethyl,Formamide, N-methyl- etc. were characterized in the study. According to the given medicinal properties of the identified compounds in compounds databases, the plant is hereby reported for possessing the Nematocidal, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Activities. The presence of various bioactive compounds justifies the use of the plant for various ailments. However, the Isolation of individual phytochemical components and their pharmacological evaluation will yield more fruitful results.