Pharmacognostic evaluation of stem bark of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

Abstract

ObjectiveTo perform the pharmacognostic study of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (P. pinnata) stem bark. MethodThe pharmacognostic studies were carried out in terms of organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, fluorescence analysis and physicochemical parameters. ResultsThe bark consisting of channelled, recurved, slightly quilled, usually 0.2–1 cm thick, lenticellate pieces with outer surface ash-grey to greyish-brown and internal surface yellowish-white to cream coloured having unpleasant odour and bitter taste. The main microscopic characterstics of the bark include phellem (5–20 or more layers of cork), phellogen (2–3 layered) followed by 10–15 layered phelloderm. Among other microscopic components were phloem parenchyma, phloem fibre and stone cells, traversed by wavy medullary rays. Further, physicochemical analysis of the bark power showed total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash and sulphated ash as 10.94, 1.96, 1.47 and 15.8 % w/w respectively. The alcohol and water soluble extractives values of the stem bark were 9.6 and 18.4 %w/w respectively. ConclusionsVarious pharmacognostic characters observed in this study helps in botanical identification and standardization of P. pinnata L. in crude form.