PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES ON LEAVES OF GYMNANTHEMUM AMYGDALINUM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO A NEW ADDITION TO THE FLORA OF SOUTH INDIA

Abstract

There has been a tremendous increase in the demand for plant-based drugs over the last several years. Due to this, there is a need for standardization of the plant raw materials. Although modern techniques are being widely used for the standardization process, the pharmacognostic approach is still reliable for identifying the raw material. The current study deals with a detailed investigation of macro-and micromorphological characters, powder characteristics, organoleptic characters, HPTLC fingerprinting and preliminary phytochemical analysis on the leaves of Gymnanthemum amygdalinum. It belongs to the family Compositae. Commonly known as a bitter leaf, in Telugu “sugarchettu” it is found throughout Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and has been recently reported in Sriramagiri Village, Mahabubababad District, Telangana, South India. The leaves are used ethnomedicinally and in folk-lore medicine, as antidiabetic and in treatment of gastritis and hepatitis. The present work can serve as a useful tool in identifying, authentication and standardization of the plant material and quality control in the pharmaceutical industry.