PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANT MALLOTUS PHILIPPENSIS

Mallotus philippensis is an indigenous medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine because of its diverse therapeutic properties. The present study aimed to perform a qualitative phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of Mallotus philippensis to identify the major bioactive constituents responsible for its medicinal potential. Fresh plant material was collected, shade-dried, powdered, and extracted using 100% methanol. Standard qualitative phytochemical tests were conducted to detect the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The results revealed that the methanolic extract contained significant amounts of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids, while alkaloids and steroids were detected in lower concentrations. These phytochemicals are associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological activities, supporting the traditional medicinal use of the plant. The findings indicate that the methanolic extract of Mallotus philippensis is a valuable source of bioactive compounds and may serve as a promising candidate for further pharmacological investigations and the development of plant-based therapeutic agents.