PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME FOLKLORE MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH APHRODISIAC PROPERTIES FROM TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Traditionally known plants with aphrodisiac properties were acquired by the aged tribal folk from Kolli Hills. Ten commonly available plants representing 9 families were chosen and screened for their chemical constituents. Among the metals screened plants, Hybanthus enneaspermus followed by Pedalium murex encountered maximum number of metals. The remaining plants account for almost equal number of metallic elements but each and every one showed individual variations in their concentration. Furthermore, all the experimental plants screened possessed Cu, Fe, Mn, Ba, Sr, V, Cd, Na and K. However, none of the above plants possessed virulent toxicants like Li, As, Cr or Pb. This study also provide evidences on the presence of various phytochemicals such of alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenes, phenolics, saponins, volatile oils, fatty acids and tannins in the plants.