Pharmacognostic and Preliminary Phytochemical Investigations of Borassus flabellifer Linn. Flowers

Abstract

Borassus flabellifer Linn. commonly known as palmyra pam. The main purpose of the present work was to conduct systematic investigation of various extracts of B. flabellifer. Linn. flowers. The flowers of B. flabellifer Linn. belonging to family Areaceae were collected from Pune district. Authenticated at Botanical Survey of Pune. In this study B. flabellifer. Linn. flowers were evaluated for morphological characteristics, powdered microscopy, pharmacognostic investigation, preliminary phytochemical investigation as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The soxhlet apparatus was used for extraction, along with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform and a hydro-alcoholic solvent. Flowers were also extracted by cold maceration. Morphologically flowers were showed a yellowish-brown color, sweet, pleasant taste. Powdered microscsopy was showed presence of fibres, vessels, crystals of calcium oxalate, starch grains. Pharmacognostic investigation shows foreign matter- Nil, total ash, water-soluble, acid-insoluble, sulphated ash was observed to be 3.5, 0.5, 0.5, 4.5%, respectively. LoD was found to be 4.6%. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol and water-soluble extractive values were observed to be 0.2, 2.6, 0.4, 5.8 and 7.6%, respectively. Fluorescence analysis was also done. Extract contains carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, triterpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. Present study could be helpful for the proper identification and further research work.