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cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema,<br />

psoriasis and for removing freckles. Saponins are believed to be useful in the human<br />

diet for controlling cholesterol. Digitalis-type saponins strengthen the heart muscle<br />

causing the heart to pump more efficiently. They also inhibit cancer tumor growth in<br />

animals, particularly, lung and blood cancers, without killing normal cells. Saponins<br />

are the plant immune system acting as an antibiotic to protect the plant against<br />

microbes and fungus (Chatterrjee & Chakravorty, 1993).<br />

5.2.4 Anthraquinones<br />

An anthraquinone is an aromatic organic compound. It is a derivative <strong>of</strong> anthracene.<br />

It has the appearance <strong>of</strong> a yellow or light-gray to gray-green, solid, crystalline<br />

powder. It is semi-soluble in water but dissolves in alcohol, nitrobenzene and aniline.<br />

It is chemically fairly stable under normal conditions. Anthraquinones naturally occur<br />

in some plants, fungi, lichen and insects, wherein they serve as a basic skeleton for<br />

their pigments. Anthraquinones are used in the production <strong>of</strong> dyes. They are also<br />

used as a laxative (Chatterrjee & Chakravorty, 1993)<br />

5.2.5 Cardiac glycosides<br />

Cardiac glycosides are drugs used in the treatment <strong>of</strong> congestive heart failure and<br />

cardiac arrhythmia. These glycosides are found as secondary metabolites in several<br />

plants and in some animals. Some <strong>of</strong> these compounds are used as arrowhead<br />

poisons in hunting (Filippos et al., 2007).<br />

5.3 RESULTS<br />

The results for the phytochemical screening <strong>of</strong> plants used in this study are<br />

summarized in Table 5.1. This table also indicates the presence <strong>of</strong> alkaloids,<br />

flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides or tannins in some species<br />

as described previously in other studies. Most <strong>of</strong> the plants surveyed produce<br />

different secondary metabolites, which were evidenced by the differences in their<br />

phytochemical results (Table 5.1).<br />

87

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