Phytochemical evaluation of plants of Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India

Thirty-six species of plants collected from Courtallum RF to Srivilliputhur RF, Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu were subjected to phytochemical analysis to find out suitable alternative fuel crops. The present study reveals that Tylophora asthmatica of Asclepiadaceae is a prime candidate for photosynthetic hydrocarbon production (2.7%) and calorific value of hydrocarbon fraction (9378.0 cal/g) and suggested as an alternative fuel crop to fossil fuel. Hydrocarbon content is high in Sarcostemma brevistigma (3.6%). Calorific value of hydrocarbon fraction of 33 plants was found to be higher than coal but just nearer to or above anthacite coal. Calotropis gigantea, Sarcostemma brevistigma and Aegle marmelos also need an indepth investigation, hence their calorific values are nearer to anthracite coal as in the case of Tylophora asthmatica. Remarkable calorific value of whole plant sample fraction but with significantly less content (1%) is recorded for Vateria indica, Bassia latifolia, Euphorbia tricalli and Dalbergia sissoo. No relationship is found between the percentage of carbon and the calorific value of samples was investigated.