PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PRIMARY METABOLITES OF MELOTHRIA MADERASPATANA (LINN.) CONG
Melothria maderaspatana (Linn.) Cogn. known as Heen kekiri of Cucurbitaceae family traditionally used in treatment of jaundice and diabetes. In present investigation various plant parts were extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water for their extractive value. These extracts were also screened for presence of different metabolites (Carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins). Primary metabolites of leaf, stem, fruit were quantitatively estimated. The maximum amount of soluble sugars and starch were found in stem, lipids in leaf and protein in fruit