Pharmacognostic Standardization and Physicochemical Evaluation of Premna barbata Wall. Ex Schauer leaves from Western Himalaya

Abstract

Premna barbata Wall. ex Schauer; belongs to family Lamiaceae. It is a deciduous shrub or a tree. The plant is distributed in the forest area of the eastern and northern parts of India in tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific Island. It is found in the Shivalik tract and the lower Himalaya. The present work has been undertaken to establish the pharmacognostical parameter of P. barbata leaves. The leaf samples were subjected to organoleptic and microscopic analysis. Physico-chemical properties and fluorescence analysis of the sample under UV were studied as per World Health Organization norms. Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity. Morphological observations revealed that the leaves are simple, petiolate, opposite, reticulate venation, 5.0-5.2 cm long, ovate in shape, entire margin with acute apex. Microscopic analysis showed that the leaves are dorsiventral, uniseriate covering trichomes present on upper and lower epidermis. Vascular bundle existing was of open and bicollateral type and pith was composed of loosely packed, comparatively large round parenchyma cells etc. Parameters like ash and extractive values, moisture content and fluorescent characteristics of the leaf samples were determined and reported. The extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The standardization parameters studied in the present investigation will aid in the identification and will be helpful in maintaining the standard profile of Premna barbata.