Phytochemical Screening of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Citrus limon and Cassia auriculata

Abstract

Medicinal plants are widely recognized for their therapeutic value due to the presence of biologically active compounds known as phytochemicals. The present study aimed to investigate the qualitative phytochemical composition of ethanolic leaf extracts of Citrus limon and Cassia auriculata. Fresh leaves were collected, shade dried, powdered, and extracted using ethanol through Soxhlet extraction. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative methods to detect the presence of major secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, carbohydrates, and proteins. The results revealed that both Citrus limon and Cassia auriculata contained alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and tannins. Carbohydrates were detected only in Cassia auriculata, while proteins were absent in both extracts. The findings indicate that Cassia auriculata possesses a comparatively richer phytochemical profile. These phytochemical constituents support the medicinal importance of both plant species and provide a basis for future pharmacological and phytochemical investigations.