A Pharmacognostical Study on Convolvulus prostratus Forssk.

Abstract

Objective: Development of physico-chemical parameters and estimation of scopoletin, a chemical marker in herb of Convolvulus prostratus Forssk. (Family: Convolvulaceae). Materials and methods: Fresh flowering plants of Convolvulus prostratus , commonly known as Shankhpushpi, were studied for developing quality parameters and HPTLC method for quantification of scopoletin and fingerprinting of C. prostratus using a mobile phase toluene and ether (1:1, saturated with 10% glacial acetic acid) and instrument Camag Linomat IV with Camag TLC scanner. Results: Morphologically, the herb can be distinguished on the basis of hairy nature, sessile leaves, white-pale pink flowers and woody rootstalk. Leaves show striated cuticle, rubiaceous and cruciferous stomata, calcium oxalate prisms, and bicollateral vascular bundle. Stem shows unicellular covering trichomes, a discontinuous ring of pericyclic fibres and pitted cells in pith. Root is easily characterized by intra-xylary phloem. Spherical pollen grains and large number of unicellular trichomes are seen in powder of C. prostratus . HPTLC method was developed for determination of scopoletin content by scanning the plates at 366 nm. Conclusions: The histological characters and HPTLC method developed for quantification of scopoletin and fingerprinting of C. prostratus would serve as a useful tool in standardization of C. prostratus .