PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF LEAF, STEM AND ROOT EXTRACTS OF Euphorbia heterophylla

The work was done to analyze the pharmaceutical active ingredients present in the leaf, stem and root of Euphorbia heterophylla of the family Euphorbiacea. The phytochemical screening done using some standard methods indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tanins, steroids and volatile oils. Alkaloids and saponins were absent in the leaf and root respectively. The Atomic Absorption spectroscopic analysis carried out on these different parts of plants showed the presence of some elements such as lead, manganese, nickel, copper, cadmium, magnesium, iron, chromium and calcium which are at different concentrations but lead was found to be absent in the stem. Some of these elements are beneficial to health and those heavy metals present were equally at low concentrations.