Wrightia arborea (Densst.) Mabb. belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is a small deciduous tree, distributed throughout the warmer parts of India. Different organs (root, bark and leaf) have been used in traditional medicine for many years. The present study was undertaken to investigate the pharmacognostic characters of root, bark and leaf, which were carried out in terms of organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, physiochemical analysis and phytochemical testing as per WHO recommended methods for standardization of different organs of the plant. In quantitative microscopy, the average stomatal index was found to be 23.0, vein islet number 25.14 and vein termination number 20.0. Physico-chemically, the moisture content was comparatively more in bark, while it was less in the root; extractive values of chloroform, ethanol and water soluble extractive were 8.8 % w/w, 21.4 % w/w and 23.68 % w/w respectively. The total ash value was less in root, than that of the leaves; whereas acid insoluble ash value was more in leaves than root. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoides, phlobatannin in bark and leaves; phenolics, reducing sugars, saponins, tannins found in all studied organs, while leucoanthocyanins, iridoids, steroids and terpenoid revealed in the leaves only. Of the various phytochemicals and minerals estimated, saponin and tannins were found in larger amounts in leaves than others, whereas the minerals, calcium were more in leaf. The present pharmacognostic parameters reported on this plant can serve as a valuable source of identification and provide a suitable diagnostic tool for standardization besides adulterant identification in related species or weeds.
