Preliminary phytochemical screening and HPTLC profiling of Chloroxylon swietenia (Roxb.) Leaf extracts

Medicinal plants are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Chloroxylon swietenia (Roxb.), commonly known as satinwood, is traditionally used in folk medicine for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and insecticidal properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the extraction yield, preliminary phytochemical constituents, and chromatographic fingerprint of C. swietenia leaf extracts prepared using different solvents. Soxhlet extraction was carried out using hexane, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, and methanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, and quinones in varying intensities depending on the solvent used. Methanol extract showed the highest yield (12.31%), followed by ethanol (10.25%). HPTLC analysis using toluene: ethyl acetate (5:1.5, v/v) demonstrated distinct phytochemical profiles under UV light at 254 nm, 366 nm, and after derivatization with vanillin-sulphuric acid. The study confirms that C. swietenia leaves are rich in secondary metabolites and may serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds.