Table 5.

Phytochemical screening of M. malabathricum leaves in powder form and MEMM

Class of compound	Sample
	Dried leaf	MEMM
Flavonoids	++	+++
Triterpenes	++	++
Tannins	++	++
Saponins	++	+
Steroids	+++	++
Alkaloids	-	-

For flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and steroids – + : weak colour; ++ : mild colour; +++ : strong colour.

For saponins – + : 1–2 cm froth; ++ : 2–3 cm froth; +++ : >3 cm froth.

For akalioids – + : negligible amount of precipitate; ++ : weak precipitate; +++ : strong precipitate.