ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Phytochemical Investigation of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst: A Plant of Medicinal Value from Gujarat, India

Medicinal plants have been utilized in the treatment of a number of disorders, considering they have potential pharmacological actions, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal and other activities. The existence of particular bioactive components in plants is linked to their medicinal efficiency. The current studies of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. It is a halophytic salt-tolerant flowering plant, which belongs to the Tamaricaceae family, has significant medicinal uses, and is collected from Koddha, Gujarat, India. This plant is known for hypertension, stomach discomfort, hair loss, cough and asthma, paralysis, skin problems, swelling, wounds, jaundice, fever, and teeth infections. It is seen that not much research work is being carried out on phytochemical analysis of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. from Gujarat state. The plant is mentioned in the Holy Quran, specifically in Surah Saba` (34:16), where it is referred to as “Athl’. The Quran describes how the people of Saba` (Sheba) were punished by Allah, and their gardens and trees, including Athl, were destroyed. This plant has been found to exhibit different pharmacological activities. The present study was to evaluate the preliminary phytochemical analysis of different extracts of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. This study examines the phytochemical composition of a plant and identifies the presence of bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, glycosides, steroids and saponins in various solvents. These phytochemicals can be correlated to the plant’s medicinal properties.