Plantenthusiast

While performing the laboratory tasks for my dissertation work, I searched many articles and books to have a reliable protocol which would be easy to follow. However, I found either very standard books which compiled the test methods in lengthy literature or research articles mentioning test procedures only briefly; easy to understand but not easy to follow. At last, I consulted protocols by three authors (which are named below) and did according to the state of our laboratory.  In this post, I am going to share the information about how we (me and my junior fellow) detected the presence of phytochemical classes in orchid sample   extract s. The aim of this post is  to provide reliable and easy to follow protocol for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to detect phytochemical classes  in sample plant extracts.   Basically, we followed protocols established by Habourne (1998), Trease and Evans (1983) with minor modifications according to the condition of our labora

How we prepared sample plant extracts? We were keen to examine pharmacognostic and pharmacological activities of wild orchid species of Nepal. Firstly, we seek permission from authorities to collect  orchid species (total 11 species) in a limited amount (from 250 - 500 g of fresh material according to availability at collection site) for the research purpose. After getting a letter of permission, we went to community forests of Mid-western, and Central Nepal to collect them. The sample specimens were authenticated, dried, extracted and tested for the pharmacognostic and pharmacological activities. Here I am presenting briefly about the way of collection, drying, and extraction.    1. Collection of Plant Material A pseudobulb of  Otochilus ablus with leaf, flower, and fruits   We collected mature and healthy plant from a place where the population of selected plant species was relatively higher . Then, a specimen of selected orchid  with flower was pres