Standardization of <i>Urena lobata</i> Linn: Unveiling Pharmacognostical Features, Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and HPTLC Fingerprinting

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Background: Urena lobata, a member of the Malvaceae family, is valued in Ayurvedic medicine, exploring its pharmacognostic features and conducting HPTLC analysis could reveal its medicinal potential for modern healthcare applications. Objectives: Explore the pharmacognostic, physicochemical, and HPTLC profiles of Urena lobata Linn. Materials and Methods: The following methods were used for pharmacognostic characterization: fluorescence analysis, macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, organoleptic investigation, primary phytochemical screening, and HPTLC profile. Results: Urena lobata, an erect herbaceous or semi-woody shrub, exhibits distinctive botanical and chemical characteristics. Its leaves are simple, lobed, and alternate, with a cordate base and hairy stems and branches. The stem structure includes a single epidermis with stellate trichomes, collenchymatous cells, and a well-defined vascular system comprising phloem, xylem, and medullary rays. Root cross-sections reveal cork, phellogen, cortex, and well-developed phloem and xylem. Leaf anatomy features a single epidermal layer, chlorenchyma, and a collateral vascular bundle with elongated palisade and parenchymatous cells. Chemical analysis using methanol and water extracts identified alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins, confirmed by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) profiling. These studies aim to standardize the plant’s identification and quality through quantitative, physicochemical, and fluorescence analyses. The comprehensive approach enhances understanding of Urena lobata’s potential uses in medicine and industry, ensuring consistency and efficacy in its applications. Conclusion: An essential investigative tool for the identification, authentication, and establishment of value characteristics of the class is provided by the current report on the pharmacognostic characterization and HPTLC analysis of U. lobata. The data from this study could serve as a benchmark for research projects in the future.