RESEARCH 1

(NARRATIVE REPORT)

THE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF

Chromolaena Odorata L. (Hagonoy)

Submitted by:
Anciano, Anna Jean
Batalo, Sittie Aisha
Gonda, Susan
Roa, Melanie
Tejero, Kent Mark

I. TITLE: The Phytochemical Screening of Chromolaena odorata L.

II. OBJECTIVE:

To be able to identify the different constituents present in the leaves of

Chromolaena odorata L and to test them using different types of method.

To understand the rationale behind every test performed.

III. INTRODUCTION
Chromolaena odorata (L) King and Robinson (also Osmia odorata L.
(Schultz-Bip), or Euphatorium odoratum L.), belongs to the family Asteraceae. Its
common names include Awolowo, Independence weed, siam weed, triffid weed,
bitter bush or jack in the bush (Okon and Amalu, 2003). Although, native to South and
Central America it is has spread throughout the tropics, Nigeria inclusive.
Chromolaena odorata is a rapidly growing perennial herb. It is a multistemmed shrub to 2.5 m (100 inches) tall in open areas. It has soft stems but the base
of the shrub is woody. The plant is hairy and glandular and the leaves give off a
pungent, aromatic odour when crushed. The leaves are opposite, triangular to elliptical
with serrated edges. Leaves are 410 cm long by 15 cm wide (up to 4 x 2 inches).
Leaf petioles are 14 cm long. The white to pale pink tubular flowers are in panicles of
10 to 35 flowers that form at the ends of branches. The seeds are achenes and are
somewhat hairy. They are mostly spread by the wind, but can also cling to fur, clothes
and machinery, enabling long distance dispersal.
The medicinal values of plants lie in their component phytochemicals
such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds, which produce

a definite physiological action on the human body. Therefore, the present work has
been designed to identify the different constituents of the plant and test them by using
different methods specific for each constituent.

IV. PLANT COLLECTION

The Chromolaena odorata leaves were collected from the garden of the
researchers friend in Talakag, Bukidnon and paid for the collection and transportation of
the plant.

V. PLANT MATERIAL PREPARATION

The Chromolaena odorata leaves were air-dried in the laboratory to
ensure that no excess moisture will affect the raw materials. The plant was finely cut
into small pieces and placed in a suitable sealed container. The plant was submerged
with the solvent ethanol and soaked for 48 hours. The extract were filtered and
evaporated to a syrupy consistency over a steam bath. The extract was placed in a
tightly stoppered container and

stored in a cold temperature. The extract is ready for

the phytochemical screening.

VI. PROCEDURE
A. The Culvenor-Fitzgerald Method for Alkaloid Field Test

Take 2-4g of the extract that was previously cooled.

Add 5ml of 1M sulfuric acid

Shake and let it stand

Pipette off the clear upper layer

Place in two small test tubes

Test

tube

Dragendorffs

Test

with

Test tube 2: Test with Mayers

reagent

(2-3

reagent

1:

(2-3

+ result: white ppt.

drops)
+ result: orange ppt.

B. Laboratory Methods for Alkaloid Analysis

Take 2g of the syrupy plant extract

Add 5ml of 2M hydrochloric acid

Heat with stirring for 5mins and cool

drops)

Add 0.5g of sodium chloride

Stir and filter

Wash the reside with enough 2M HCl to bring the filtrate to a volume of 5ml

Test

tube

Dragendorffs

Test

with

Test tube 2: Test with Mayers

reagent

(2-3

reagent

1:

drops)

(2-3

drops)

+ result: white ppt.

VII. +RESULT
AND DISCUSSION
result: orange
ppt.
VIII. CONCLUSION
IX. DOCUMENTATION
X. REFERENCE:
Books:
Phytochemical Screening, Microbiological Screening and Pharmacological Screening of
Medicinal Plants.
Web:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromolaena_odorata
http://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=pjn.2009.521.524
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228340591_Phytochemical_constituents_and_
antioxidant_properties_of_extracts_from_the_leaves_of_Chromolaena_odorata
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/23248