INTRODUCTION:

Tecoma stans Linn. is a shrub or small tree. It is a Central and South American tree that grows to 25 ft. leaves are opposite, odd-pinnate, up to 20 cm in length; barklets 5 or 7 in number, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 6-13 cm long, long and slenderly acuminate, base acute or acuminate, margins sharply serrate. The twigs are green, turning brown, and the older bark is light gray and very furrowed. Its primary applications have been in treating diabetes and digestive problem^[1]. Extracts from Tecoma stans Linn. leaf have been found to inhibit the growth of the yeast infection. Flower infusion can be taken orally for diabetes and stomach pains^[2]. A strong flower and root decoction is taken orally as a diuretic, to treat syphilis or for intestinal worms. The plant is considered in the Satara District an effective remedy for snake and rats bites and for scorpion sting, diuretic, vermifuge and tonic^[3]. Flower and bark have some medicinal value for the treatment of various cancer. The phytochemical report on Tecoma stans Linn. indicates that the plant contain triterpenes, hydrocarbons, resins and a volatile oil. The leaf contains flavonoid, the alkaloids, tecomine and tecostidine. It was observed that the extracts of stem bark generally showed better antimicrobial activity than those of the leaves and some organisms were selectively more sensitive to the extracts than others ^[4]. The flower contains β-carotene and zeaxantin^[5].

The present investigation has been undertaken with an objective to establish physicoparameters standards for Tecoma stans Linn. bark so that authentic plant material could be explored properly for its traditional claims.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The fresh bark of Tecoma stans Linn. were collected in the month of September (2008) from Bargarh, Orissa, India. These were identified, confirmed and authenticated by Prof.P.Jayaraman, PARC, Chennai. The voucher specimen was given the No.PARC/2007/83.Collected fresh bark were washed and used to evaluate physiochemical parameters.. The powder of dried bark was used for the determination ash values, extractive values and phytochemical investigations. All chemicals and reagents used for testing were analytical grade obtained from SD Fine Chemicals, Mumbai (India).

Extraction

The powdered material was extracted successively with petroleum ether (60-80°), ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol by using soxhlet apparatus. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure which gave light yellow, green, deep green, dark brown, colored residue for petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methalonic and extract respectively. The extracts were concentrated under vacuum at 40-60°c which yields a residue (4.2w/w, 3.5w/w, 10.24%w/w 16.78w/w, 14.5w/w) which were stored in a desiccators at room temperature^[6].

Physico-chemical parameters

Percentage of total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water soluble ash and sulphated ash were calculated as per the Indian Pharmacopoeia^[7].The total ash of the powdered bark was tested for different inorganic constituents^[8]. Different extracts of the bark were prepared for the study of extractive values^[9]. Fluorescence analysis of powdered bark was carried out by standard methods ^{[10, 11].}

Preliminary phytochemical analysis

For the preliminary phytochemical analysis, 5 g powdered drug was extracted with petroleum ether (60-80), ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol and water successively. The extracts were dried and weighed. The presence or absence of different phytoconstituents viz. triterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, sugars, tannins, glycosides and flavonoids, etc. were detected by usual prescribed methods ^{[12, 13]} .

*Table 1. Behavior of bark powder of Tecoma stans* Linn. With different chemical reagents**.
Sl No.	Acid/ reagent	Observation
1	powder as such	light brown
2	Powder + picric acid	yellow
3	Powder + con. Nitric acid	red
4	Powder + con. Hydrochloric acid	light green
4	Powder + con. Sulphuric acid	brown
6	Powder + Glacial acetic acid	colorless
7	Powder + 5% Ferric chloride solution (aqueous)	green
8	Powder + Sodium hydroxide(5N)	yellow
9	Powder + Potassium hydroxide (5%)	light yellow
10	Powder + Iodine/20	red

*Table 2.Ash Value Tecoma stans* Linn.bark**
Type of ash	%w/w (Mean±SEM)
Total ash	7.55±0.167
Acid insoluble ash	1.76±0.062
water soluble ash	4.41±0.071
Sulphated ash	6.45±0.256

Mean value of six readings

*Table 3. Extractive values of Tecoma stans* Linn. bark with different solvents.**
Types of solvent	% Extractability (Mean±SEM)
Petroleum ether	2.6±0.05
Benzene	0.24±0.02
Ethyl acetate	1.26±0.07
Chloroform	1.63±0.04
Methanol	6.28±0.07
Water	2.53±0.05

Mean value of six readings

RESULTS

Behavior of bark powder with different chemical reagents

Behavior of bark powder of Tecoma stans Linn. with different chemical reagents were performed to detect the occurrence of phytoconstituents along with color changes under ordinary daylight by standard method which is tabulated in Table1

Physico-chemical study

The percentage of total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulphated ash and different extractives are tabulated in Table 2 and 3. The qualitative analysis of ash indicated presence of calcium, aluminum, potassium, chlorides and sulphates.

Fluorescence characteristics

When physical and chemical parameters are inadequate as it often happens with the powdered drugs, the plant material may be identified from their adulterants on basis of fluorescence study of different extract and powdered drug which is tabulated in Tables 4 and 5.

*Table 4 Fluorescence analysis of different solvent extract of Tecoma stans* Linn. bark under UV and visible light**
Extract	Visible light	UV
Extract	Visible light	Short wave	Long wave
Petroleum extract (60-80°C)	Visible light	Short wave	Long wave
Chloroform extract		yellowish green	greenish black
Ethyl acetate extract	light yellow	green	greenish brown
Methanol extract	yellowish green	light green	black
Petroleum extract (60-80°C)	light brown	green	dark brown

Preliminary phytochemical analysis

The preliminary phytochemical analysis of bark extracts of petroleum ether (60-80°C), ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol and water is tabulated in Table 6.

DISCUSSION

The water soluble ash is almost half of total ash and twice of acid insoluble ash. The alcohol soluble extractive value is more than any other extractive value indicating the solubility of phytoconstituents in alcohol. The fluorescence analysis of powder and extract indicate the any fluorescent phytoconstituent present or adulterants. Preliminary phytochemical analysis indicates the nature of phytoconstituents present in different solvent extract. This also indicates that the methanol extract have more number of phytoconstituent than any other extracts i.e. Carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, phytosterol, saponin flavonoids and phenolics. These are few of the important physico-chemical characters of the bark.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors sincerely thanks to the principal and management of The Pharmaceutical College, Barpali, Bargarh for providing all the facilities to carry out the study and special thanks to Prof. P. Jayaraman (PARC) Chennai, for providing the information about plant.

*Table 5. Fluorescence analysis of bark powder of Tecoma stans* Linn. with different chemical reagents**.
Reagent	Colour in day light	Short wave UV	Long wave UV
Powder as such	Light brown	No change	Dark brown
Powder+1 N NaOH in Methanol	Light green	Green	Yellowish green
Powder+1 N NaOH	Yellowish green	Green	Deep brown
Powder+ Ethanol	Colorless	Colorless	Colorless
Powder+ HNO₃+NH₃ sol.	Light green	Light green	Brown
Powder+50% HNO₃	Light green	Green	Brown
Powder + 1 N HCl	Colorless	Colorless	Light brown
Powder+HCl	Light green	Light green	Brown
Powder+H₂SO₄	Deep brown	Black	Black
Powder+50% H₂SO₄	Light green	Green	Brown
Powder+glacial acid	Colorless	Colorless	Light brown
Powder+HNO₃	Light yellow	Light green	blue

*Table 6. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of various extracts of Tecoma stans* Linn. bark**
Types of constituent	Petroleum ether	Ethyl acetate	Chloroform	Methanol	Water
Alkaloid	-	-	-	+	+
Carbohydrate and glycoside	-	+	+	+	+
Saponin	-	+	-	+	+
Protein	-	-	-	-	-
Sterol	+	+	+	+	+
Fixed oils and fats	+	-	+	-	-
Phenolic compounds and flavonoids	-	-	+	+	-
Gums and mucilage	-	-	-	-	-