Physicochemical evaluation of Solanum nigrum linn. and Tribulus terrestris linn.

Herbal drugs are an integral part Indian medicinal system. Among them two plants are extensively used in folklore medicine system viz. Tribulus terrestris and Solanum nigrum because of numerous pharmacological activities. Various species of these plants are available, out of which some species are more potent whereas others have very less pharmacological potential. Therefore, identification of appropriate plant species is very important in the process of drug discovery and development. In the present study various physicochemical parameters were employed to identify powdered samples of fruit of Tribulus terrestris and berries of Solanum nigrum. These parameters include colour, odour, and taste. The physicochemical parameters evaluated for Tribulus terrestris and Solanum nigrum were found as moisture content (4.81, 6.89 respectively), loss on drying (5.16, 11.18 respectively) total ash values (7.44, 9.21 respectively) water soluble ash (4.081, 6.89 respectively), acid insoluble ash (0.81, 0.58) bulk density (0.50, 0.71) and tapped density (0.42, 0.65). The preliminary estimation of phytoconstituents were done by using TLC with different solvent systems and the Rf values were compared with standard. The ????max obtained for Tribulus terrestris and Solanum nigrum was found to be 201nm and 267 nm respectively.