Comparative Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Munronia Pinnata (Wall.) Theob. (Meliaceae) and Its Substitute Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. Ex Nees (Acanthaceae)

Abstract

Background: Munronia pinnata (Wall) Theob. (Meliaceae), a rare, therapeutically important medicinal plant, which is often adulterated by materials of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae). However, adulteration of M. pinnata with A. paniculata without scientifically proven data on important quality standards might adversely affect the therapeutic properties of herbal drugs. Methodology: Therefore, the present study was undertaken to establish a comparative quality standards on morphological, anatomical, powder microscopical, phytochemical, physicochemical and antioxidant activity of M. pinnata and A. paniculata by using established protocols. Principal Findings: Results demonstrated that M. pinnata could be distinguished from A. paniculata by comparing polymorphic morphological characters, anatomical and powder microscopic characters. Major phytochemical groups were present in leaves, stem and roots of both plants. Results of TLC exhibited the highest number of common spots in leaf (Rf 0.10, 0.23, 0.30, 0.56, 0.86 and 0.96) followed by stem and root extracts for both M. pinnata and A. paniculata. Both plant species possess notable total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of all three parts tested. However, higher TAC was exhibited in A. paniculata compared to M. pinnata. Order of increase of TAC was leaf > stem > root for M. pinnata and stem > leaf > root for A. paniculata. Conclusions/Significance: The presence of certain similarities in major phytochemical groups, and in antioxidant capacity of M. pinnata and A. paniculata to some extent justifies the use of A. paniculata as a substitute for M. pinnata in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka which needs to be confirmed after further clinical trials.