Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Studies on Leaves of Cinchona officinalis

Abstract

Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies were carried out on Cinchona officinalis leaves belong to the Family Rubiaceae. It is one of the important traditional medicines. Different parts of this plant used traditionally for the treatment of malaria, typhoid, irregularity of heart, mild central nervous system depresents, local anaesthetic, hypotensive, antispasmodic action on smooth muscle, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac depressant particularly in auricular fibrillation. The present investigation deals with the leaves of C.officinalis morphology parameters and microscopical studies such as Transverse section, Scanning Electron Microscope, Leaf constants, physicochemical, and elemental analysis by EDS. The shade dried leaf was powdered which is followed by the florescence analysis was carried out on powdered leaf. Standardization of the plant is done with WHO parameters. The leaf was extracted with ethanol in Soxhlet apparatus, the extract was collected and preserved in a vaccumdessicator. Phytochemical studies were carried out by using ethanol extract. The present study include the macroscopy, microscopy, phytochemical evaluation and elemental analysis are effective and economical botanical identity which can be supportive to standardization and authentication this plant material.