Abstract
Aims: To evaluate pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical analysis of stem of Conocarpus lancifolius including macroscopic, microscopic and physicochemical parameters. Methods and Material: Macroscopic and microscopic properties of dried stem were investigated. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of various extracts and fluorescence analysis of dried stem powder was performed using various chemicals. Physicochemical parameters were evaluated as per WHO guidelines. Results: Organoleptic parameters of stem of C. lancifolius like colour, shape, size etc were noted. Transverse section of fresh stem revealed the presence of epidermis, cortex, sone cells, phloem, xylem and pith. Whereas, powder microscopy showed the presence of epidermis, xylem, stone cells, phloem fibre with crystals of calcium oxalate etc. Phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of stem showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycoside, steroids etc. Ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of alkaloids and steroids while aqueous extract showed presence of tannins. Physicochemical parameters viz. ash value, extractive value, moisture content, fluorescence analysis and foaming index of stem powder were determined. The total tannins were also determined in the stem of C. lancifolius. Conclusion: The present study revealed pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical parameters of stem of C. lancifolius which would be beneficial for its standardization and future scope of the work.
Highlights
In recent years there is a renovated interest in drugs of natural origin because of their safety as well as there are incidences of harmful nature of the synthetic drugs [1]
According to WHO guidelines the morphology and microscopy are the important parameters for the evaluation of the crude drugs
The phytochemical analysis of the various extracts of the stem showed the presence of various phytoconstituents which are responsible for the pharmacological activity of the plant
Summary
In recent years there is a renovated interest in drugs of natural origin because of their safety as well as there are incidences of harmful nature of the synthetic drugs [1]. Pharmacognostic study deals with the authentication and quality assessments of crude drugs and herbal materials based on various macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical and chemical characteristics [2]. Unexplored drug resources in medicinal plants have great therapeutic potential as they are helpful in achieving new drugs with lead targets and unique mechanism of action [3]. Conocarpus lancifolius belonging to Combretaceae family is an evergreen tree usually growing 10-20 m tall. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a source of good quality wood and fuel [4]. The tree is found beside intermittent watercourses of Northern Somalia and in the southwest part of the Arabian Peninsula in Djibouti, Sudan, Kenya, north and south Yemen and Pakistan [5]
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