Phytochemical Screening of Ethanol and n-hexane Extracts of the Plant Parts and Callus of Pulicaria jaubertii

Pulicaria jaubertii is a spicing and medicinal plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. Studies found that this plant contains various important phytochemicals. However, these studies have not covered the identification of these compounds found in its callus produced by in vitro micropropagation. This study screens and compares, for the first time, the phytochemicals found in the ethanol and n-Hexane extracts of this plant's parts and callus. Native plant parts were collected and washed. Some of them were cultured on MS medium to produce callus, and the others were dried. Each sample was then powdered and extracted by ethanol and n-Hexane solvents and screened for the presence of some biologically important phytochemicals. Screening tests in the ethanol extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides, carbonyls, phenols/tannins, phlobatanin, terpenoids, and steroids in the callus and most of the plant parts. n-Hexane extracts revealed the presence of fewer phytochemical groups in the callus and plant parts. In conclusion, ethanol and n-Hexane extracts of plant parts and callus of P. jaubertii contain several bioactive metabolites. Interestingly, callus extracts revealed some compounds that are not found in certain plant parts. Further studies, including extraction by other solvents, using more advanced separation techniques are recommended.