Phytopharmacognostical and Chromatographic Evaluation of Leaves of Launaea procumbens

Abstract

Launaea procumbens leaves are galactagogue, diuretic, antifungal, anorexic, anti-arthritic and hepatoprotective according to Ayurvedic texts as well as modern research. Launaea species, particularly L. pinnatifida, is mentioned as one of the sources of Gojihva, regarding which there is controversy with respect to its true botanical identity. However, no detailed anatomical, phytochemical or chromatographic investigation is available for leaf of L. procumbens which can differentiate it from L. pinnatifida. The aim of this work is to develop standardization parameters of L. procumbens leaves by performing its pharmacognostical evaluation, preliminary phytochemical screening, HPTLC and GC-MS fingerprints. Pharmacognostic investigation of the leaves was performed by its morphological study, qualitative and quantitative microscopy as well as powder microscopy. Extraction of leaves was done by maceration using methanol. This extract was used for preliminary phytochemical screening and chemoprofiling by GC-MS, as well as for developing its HPTLC fingerprint. A mobile phase system was developed by pilot TLC, following which an HPTLC fingerprint was performed using the solvent system chloroform: methanol: ethyl acetate (3:7:6). Diagnostic microscopic characters identified in powder include unicellular covering trichome, xylem vessels, anomocytic stomata, and prisms of calcium oxalate crystal. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phytoconstituents classes like phenolics, anthraquinones, saponin glycosides, carbohydrates, sterols, triterpenoids and flavonoids. HPTLC fingerprinting detected 6 peaks with Rf 0.25, 0.37, 0.41, 0.50, 0.65, 0.78 at 254nm and 4 peaks with Rf 0.32, 0.37, 0.50, 0.66 at 366nm. GC-MS fingerprint revealed presence of propanoic acid anhydride, valeric anhydride, 2- Pyrrolidine acetic acid, phthalan, 5- (Hydroxy methyl)-2-(dimethoxy methyl) furan, vanillin, methyl β-l-Arabino pyranoside, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-Gluco pyranose and 6-Methyl-2-Heptanone, 6-(3,5-dimethyl-2-furanyl). Present study will be very useful for herbal industry in differentiating Launaea procumbens from other species of the genus Launaea, particularly L. pinnatifida (Gojihva) as well as for authentication, standardization and detection of adulteration in the leaf formulations of Launaea procumbens.