63PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE LEAF OF PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA L. A COMMON UNDERSTOREY SPECIES OF HOMESTEAD AGROFORESTS OF KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMILNADUTo screen the phyto-constituents present in the leaves of Plumbago zeylanica L., a common understory species of homestead agro forests of Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu. Aqueous, Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Ethanol and acetone extracts of the leaves were prepared by adding 50g of powdered material in Soxhlet apparatus with 250 ml of each of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and acetone. The extracts were filtered through Whatman No.1 filter paper and the solvents were evaporated (at 40°C) with the help of heating mantle. The sticky greenish brown substances were stored in refrigerator, and used for the qualitative phytochemical screening for the identification of various classes of the active chemical constituents. Different phyto-constituents such as Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Terpenoids, Steroids, Proteins, Coumarins, Quinones, Alkaloids and Phytosterols were identified in the extracts. These secondary metabolites are potential sources of useful drugs. Plumbago zeylanica a reservoir of active phyto-constituents found commonly in the homestead agroforests of Kanyakumari district can be a cheap source of efficacious drugsjeeva@gmail.comResearch432014Phyto-constituents,Plumbago zeylanica L,Secondary metabolitesS. Saleem Jose,J. Joselin,A.R. Florence,T.S. Shynin Brintha,S. JeevaDepartment of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Tamilnadu, India–629 165,Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Tamilnadu, India–629 165,Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Tamilnadu, India–629 165,Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Tamilnadu, India–629 165,Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Tamilnadu, India–629 165