One of the most significant sources of medication is plants. In poor nations, traditional medicine has been a significant part of the healthcare system. The affordability of traditional medicine is the reason for its demand. The WHO estimates that more than 80% of the world's population receives primary healthcare through traditional medicine, the majority of which is plant-based. The usage of medicinal plants has evolved over the ages into a significant aspect of daily life as a result of advancements in pharmaceutical and medical science. In India, some 3000 plant species are thought to have therapeutic qualities. An estimated 40% of people on the planet rely only on plant-based medication for their medical needs. [1] Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide range of chemical compounds that are used to perform biological compounds. The therapeutic potential of plants is due to the presence of metabolites present in the plant such as alkaloids, phenolic, flavonoids, phenol, and tannin. Ankol (Alangium lamarkii) synonym Alangium salviifolium (Linn. f.) wang. It belongs to the family Alangiaceae and is commonly known as sage-leaved alangium. The genus Alangium consists of 22 species that are growing throughout India. All parts of plants such as stems, leaves, roots, and bark, are being used to make medicines that are used to cure illnesses. Ankol oil is used in Ayurvedic medicine. Ankol seed is used to improve stamina and physical performance. While Ankol oil is also valuable in itching, herpes, and other skin disease. This tree grows up to 20 m in height, clusters of 4 to 8 flowers, at times only a single flower, which is dense and fragrant, cream color. Ankol oil is also valued for healing snakebites, scorpion bites as well as a dog bites. Alangium salviifolium is the most useful medicinal plant having a wide spectrum of biological activity. It has the potential for anti-diabetic, anticancer, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, laxative, anthelmintic, and antiepileptic activities. The plant was also reported for its antifungal activity, antimicrobial activity, cardiac activity, and antifertility activity. [2]

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ALANGIUM LAMARKII:

Alangium lamarkii is distributed in many countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It is also found in Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia, and tropical Australia. In India, it is found in different states of India like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. [3]

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:

Sage-leaved alangium tall, prickly sage-leaved alangium tree is indigenous to India. It can reach a height of three to ten meters. The bark has a rough, mild ash color. The ankol tree has smooth bark at first, but as it ages, cracks in the bark cause the tree to appear youthful and rough. The bark is colored from pale brown to yellow. There are many uses for the wood, including musical instruments and decorations. The 7.6–15.2 cm long, elliptic-oblong leaves have a wedge-shaped base, an entire margin, a blunt tip, and a papery to nearly leathery texture before going bald. Bisexual blooms are borne in stalkless clusters of four to eight blossoms. [4] Stalks of flowers are 2–8 mm. The fragrant, cream-colored flowers measure 1.2–3 cm.  Four to ten petals, basally enlarged at tip blunt, 1.2–3 cm; filaments 4–12 mm; stamens 10–30; at tip geniculate and bearded; style hairless, 8–24 mm; outside woolly, inside less so. Berries are smooth, hairless, ellipsoid, nearly spherical, violet to purple, and measure 9–24 x 6–16 mm. blooms from February to June. When ripe, the tiny, almost spherical fruits have a purple-red colour and are topped by a prolonged calyx limb. Blooming from March to May. Drupe fruit bearing one or two seeded berries. The juicy pulp of the apple tastes sweet and has a nice aroma. [5

Table 1: Taxonomical classification: [4]

Table 2 : Vernacular Name:[4]

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION:

The different successive extracts obtained from Alangium salviifolium (Linn. f.) wang were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening by applying different qualitative tests for phytoconstituents. The different extracts contained Saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, proteins, amino acids, and volatile oil. The presence of these phytoconstituents was confirmed by TLC. [6]

Alkaloids:-

1. Dragendorff’s Test –

Take 1ml of the solvent extract, add an equal volume of distilled water, and add 1ml of Dragendorff’s reagent. The orange or red color is formed, indicating the presence of alkaloids.

2. Mayers Test –

Take 1ml of solvent extract, and add 1ml of Mayers reagent. A white or pale yellow precipitate is formed, indicating the presence of alkaloids.

Flavonoids:-

1. Ferric chloride Test –

Take the solution of the extract, and add a few drops of neutral ferric chloride solution. The formation of a blackish-red color indicates the presence of flavonoids.

2. Shinod’s Test –

Take 1ml of solvent extract diluted with 3ml of ethanol and a pinch of Mg in a test tube, shaken gently. Pink or brown precipitate indicated the presence of flavonoids.

Carbohydrates:-

1. Molischs Test –

 Take 1ml of solvent extract and add 10ml of water in a test tube, shaken and filtered. In filtrated, add 1ml of Molisch reagent was added followed by a few drops of Conc. Sulphuric acid from the side of the test tube.Brown purple ring at the junction of liquid, which indicates the presence of carbohydrates

2. Fehling Test –

Take 1ml of solvent extract and add 10ml of water in a test tube, shake & filter. In filtrate 1ml of Fehling solution A and 1ml of Fehling solution B and keep in a boiling water bath for 5-10 min.  Brick re-precipitate confirms the presence of sugars.

Saponins:-

1. Foam Test –

Take 5ml of solvent extracts in test tubes add a drop of sodium bicarbonate, shake. formation of a cloudy white precipitate indicated the presence of saponins.

Triterpenoids:-

1. Salkowaski Test –

Take 1ml of solvent extract in a test tube and add conc. Sulphuric acid and shake an allowed to stand, lower layer turns yellow.

 Tannins:-

1. Gelatin Test –

Take 1ml of solvent extract and add 1% solution of gelatin containing 10% sodium chloride formation of a white precipitate indicates the presence of tannin.

Steroids:-

1. Take 1 ml of the extract was dissolved in 10 ml of the chloroform and equal volume of sulphuric acid was added to a test tube. If the upper layer turns red and sulphuric acid layer shows yellow with green fluorescence. This indicates the presence of steroids.

Glycoside:-

1. Take 1ml of conc. sulphuric acid gently poured on the walls of an incline test tube containing 1ml of extract. Dropwise was added 10?rric chloride solution and observed for a brown, violet, or greenish ring.[7]

PRINCIPLE OF TLC:

Thin layer chromatography, or TLC, is a chromatography technique this method used for analyzing mixtures by separating the compounds in the mixture. TLC is used to determine the compounds present in a given substance, the number of compounds, purity of a compound. Thin layer chromatography is performed on a glass, aluminum foil, and plastic sheet. Which is coated with usually silica gel, aluminum oxide, or cellulose as the solid phase. The thin layer of absorbent is known as the stationary phase. The principle of thin-layer chromatography is the distribution of a compound between a solid phase applied to any plate and a liquid mobile phase (solvent) that is moving over the solid phase. A starting point just above the bottom of the TLC plate is applied by a small amount of compound. [8]

Step 1:

Prepare the developing container

The developing container for TLC can be a specially designed chamber, a jar, or a beaker with a watch glass on the top. Pour solvent into the chamber to a depth of just less than 0.5 cm. To aid in the saturation of the TLC chamber with solvent vapors, you can line part of the inside of the beaker with filter paper. Cover the beaker with a watch glass, and allow it to stand while you prepare your TLC plate.

Step 2:

Prepare the TLC Plate

These are used for applying the thin layer of the stationary phase. They are inert or stable. The layer of stationary phase is kept even throughout these plates for better analysis. Usually, ready-to-use plates are preferred for conducting experiments.

Step 3:

Develop the plate

Place the TLC plate in the developing chamber, and cover the beaker with the watch glass, the solvent will raise the TLC plate by capillary action. Allow the plate to develop until the solvent is about half Remove the plate from the beaker and immediately mark the solvent front with a pencil. Allow the plate to dry.

Step 4:

Visualize the spots

If there are any colored spots, circle them lightly with a pencil. Most samples are not colored and need to be visualized with a UV lamp.

Rƒ values: Rƒ = Distance of center of spot from starting point / Distance of solvent from     starting point [9]

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

Phytochemical screening of the plant Alangium salviifolium (Linn. f.) wang extracts was done by applying some previously established methods. The majority of the extract contained flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, and glycosides.

Leaves Extract:-

The alcoholic and aqueous extract of Alangium lamarkii contains Alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, amino acids, phenols, triterpenoids, and Phytosterols. The total ash of the leaf was found to be 7.62% w/w, acid insoluble ash was 1.66% w/w and water soluble ash was 2.11% w/w. Also according to certain research, the Methanol extract of leaves contains steroids and glycosides. [2]

Phytochemical screening of the water extract of ankol seed shows the presence of carbohydrates and glycosides. While Petroleum ether showed the presence of steroids and glycosides, protein. A. landmarks have also found Algimarine, Algimaridine, Alamanine, Betulinic acid, Betuline, Betulinaldehyde, Emetine, Cephaeline, N-methyl cephaeline, Psychotrine, and Lipeol.[11]

Table 4: TLC of the seed of various extracts of the Alangium lamarkii [12]

Fruit Extract:-

Fruit Extract:-

The water extract of A.lamarkii shows the presence of Alangiside, deoxytobulosine, and N-methyl cephaeline.[11]

According, to certain research, the ethanol Extract of A. lamarkii root shows the presence of alkaloids, glycoside, flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterols, tannins, saponins, triterpenes. Ankol roots also contain Alangium A & B, Alangine, Alangiside, Cephaeline, Emetine, Isotubulosine, Marckidine, Marckine, Psychotrine, and Tubulosine. [11]

The phytochemical screening of methanol and chloroform extract of A. lamarkii shows the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenol, steroids, phytosterol, and carbohydrates.[1

Fig 1 Aangium Lamarkii Leaves

Fig 2 Bark

Fig 3 Flower

Fig 4 Fruits

TRADITIONAL USES:

Sage-leaved alangium is well known for its medicinal uses in many traditional medicinal systems in the treatment of skin cancers by local application of the root. It also reduces blood pressure due to its vasodilation property, blood disorders, diarrhea, purgative, and cure piles. The ankol leaf paste is used in treating pain linked to rheumatic and Osteoarthritis and also treated asthma. Fruit juice can be locally applied for eye-related disorders, expectorant, and as an antidote for poisoning. Seed is used to treat digestive problems and intestinal colics, and cure bronchial asthma. The bark is used as an emetic. A. lamarkiii has many traditional uses pungent, alleviates spasms, and antiprotozoal, it used in the treatment of malaria. [16] 

PHYTOCONSTITUENTS PRESENT IN ALANGIUM LAMARKII:

Table 7: Phytoconstituents present and its structure in Alangium lamarkii [17]

IN-VIVO PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES: