Pharmacognostic Studies and Establishment of Quality Parameters for Albizia altissimum (Hook.f) Hutch et Dandy Leaf

Abstract

Introduction: A large population of Nigerian like in other part of the developing world depend on the use of plants to meet their health needs and to address the perceive inadequacies associated with this form of therapy it is essentials that quality standard are established for plants used in traditional therapy. This study was carried out for Albizia altissimum (Hook.f) Hutch et Dandy a plant widely used in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria for mental disorder among many other uses. Methods: The World Health Organization (W.H.O) guidelines for the establishment of quality parameter for medicinal plants were used to carry out all the determinations-.microscopic, macroscopic and quantitative parameters. Results: Transverse section of the leaf showed a single layer epidermis with cuticle and trichomes, mesophyll divided into palisade and spongy mesophyll as well as druse calcium oxalate crystals along the vein while physicochemical parameters such total ash, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash were also determined. Conculsion: The parameters determined above can serve as a platform for the preparation of a monograph for the leaf of A. altissimum.