Studies in pharmacognostic characters of the climber <em>Erycibe paniculata</em> Roxb. of Convolvulaceae

Abstract

The present scientific investigation deals with the pharmacognosy and preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaf and stem bark of Erycibe paniculata Roxb., an ethnomedicinal climber used in curing the fever, cholera, night blindness, sprains, constipation, etc. Standard methods have been followed to study the microscopic, macroscopic, physicochemical characters and fluorescence behavior of the powdered samples of this plant. Phytochemical screening including GCMS of the stem bark has also been performed. In leaf epidermal micromorphology, it was found that stomata are anisocytic type distributed in hypostomatic leaf. Stomatal Index was 13.879.Glandular unicellular type of trichomes found in both surfaces of the leaf. Non-glandular trichomes with 2 to 6-arms were observed on the epidermal surfaces of petiole and stem. Petiole in T.S. is semi-lunar in outline housing 3 vascular bundles. Total ash of the stem bark was found 9%, of which acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash values were observed 0.092% and 7.626%, respectively. Moisture content of the bark sample was 0.5%. Out of five solvent extractsofthe stem bark, methanolic extract showed highest extractive value (8.672%). Important groups of phytochemicals like tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. are detected in stem bark extract. Nine bioactive compounds have been identified through GCMS analysis from them ethanolic bark extract which, in turn, indicate its therapeutic properties. Present study provides the pharmacognostic characters of both leaf and stem bark of Erycibe paniculata which will be an instrumental in authentication and quality control of the crude drugs procured from this medicinal plant.