Phytochemical screeningand in vitro nematicidal activity of castor and amaltas seed extracts

Seed extracts of Castor (Ricinus communis L.) and Amaltas (Cassia fistula L.) were screened for their nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood. Aqueous extract of seeds at the concentration of 100, 50, 25 and 20 percent showed 100 percent larval mortality whereas delaying and reduction in egg hatching was also observed. Economic importance of non-edible oil seeds of Castor (Ricinus communis L.), Amaltas (Cassia fistula L.) is due to the presence of variety of secondary metabolites that are useful in pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Present study reveals the presence of terpenoids, steroids, tannins, proteins, coumarins, saponins, phenols, carbohydrates and flavonoidsin methanolic seed extract of Castor and Amaltas. Phlobatannins was appear to be absent in these seeds. Amaltas had highest concentrations of these bioactive compounds followed by Castor.