Pteridophytes are gaining importance as therapeutic agents due to the presence of various phytochemicals and their promising bioactivities. Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm., a Polypodiaceae member is endowed with numerous medicinal properties and finds wide usage in ethno as well as traditional medicines. The rhizome of D. quercifolia (L.) J. Sm. was subjected to macro-microscopic, physicochemical, phytochemical and HPTLC analysis to derive a standard for this drug. The microscopic detailing showed a wavy outline due to the presence of ridges and furrows and a broad ground tissue with diffusely arranged steles. The powdered drug showed trichomes, stellar tissue and silica crystals while the physicochemical and phytochemical screenings gave substantial values of different parameters. The rhizome extracts were subjected to HPTLC studies with Linomat 5 TLC applicator and diagnostic peaks were recorded under UV 254 nm, 366 nm and 620 nm. The study put forward an exclusive identity profile of this medicinal rhizome.

Background: Plectranthus vettiveroides is an aromatic perennial herb, which belongs to family Lamiaceae. The whole plant of P. vettiveroides is aromatic, bitter, cooling, febrifuge, diaphoretic, stimulant, diuretic, useful in vitiated conditions of pitta, burning sensation, leprosy, skin diseases, leucoderma, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, ulcers, stomachic and emmenagogue. In the present investigation morpho-anatomical, preliminary phyto-chemical, physico-chemical parameters and TLC/HPTLC fingerprint of the whole plant of P. vettiveroids were carried out and reported. Objective: To carry out morpho-anatomical, phytochemical and TLC/HPTLC studies on dried whole plant of P. vettiveroides for authentication/identification. Methods: The morphology, microscopy and phyto-chemical investigation were carried out by following standard methods. Results: Microscopically spiral, reticulated, scalariform and pitted vessels, libriform and septate fibres, multicellular branched covering trichomes, glandular trichomes and silica crystals are the unique diagnostic characteristics in whole plant of P. vettiveroides. The preliminary phyto-chemical, physico-chemical parameters and number of spots and R f values of TLC/HPTLC are found to be unique diagnostic characteristics of the plant for identification. Conclusion: The finding of present study is helpful in standardization of formulation consists of whole plant of P. vettiveroides as ingredient in their powdered form and also for authentication/ identification of dried whole plant of P. vettiveroides.

Background: Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (Fam. Leguminosae) is a medium sized, deciduous tree distributed in South India mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The heartwood is highly prized and medicinally useful. The heartwood is used in Indian system of medicine for leucorrhoea, piles, syphilis, vomiting, fever, thirst, purifying blood and in wound healing. Pterocarpus santalinus is one of the ingredients in many Siddha and Ayurvedic formulations namely Cintil Ney, Senchandana Manapagu, Candana Bala, Laksadi Taila and Candanadi lauha. Objective: The present study brings out macro-microscopic atlas on heartwood of medicinal plant Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. Materials and Methods: Sections and powder were observed and photographed under different magnifications with the help of Olympus BX51 Microscopic unit fitted with Olympus Camera. Results: Macroscopically colour, odour and taste; microscopically tyloses, needle eye end fibres, forked fibres with pegged and sharp end, pitted and border pitted vessels, uni-seriate medullary rays, Reddish brownish content, oil globules, simple starch grains, crystal fibres and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are the unique diagnostic characters reported. Conclusion: The finding of the present study is believed to be helpful in identifying the genuineness of the heartwood in crude raw drug and also in standardization of herbal formulation containing red sandalwood as ingredient.

Context: The roots of the plant Aerva lanata are extensively used in Indian System of Medicine to cure urinary stones, antidiabetic, diuretic and used as demulcent. Aim: To investigate the phytoconstituents from the n-hexane extract of the roots of Aerva lanata using GC-MS analysis. Materials and Methods Roots of Aerva lanata was extracted by Soxhlet extraction method using n-hexane. The chromatogram was recorded by injecting the extract by splitless injection mode into the GC MS 5975 C Agilent equipped with a QP- 5000 (quadrupole) Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometer. Results: 23 phytoconstituents were identified by close matches with standard MS spectra and compared with NIST- 11 and WILEY library data from n-hexane extract. The major compounds reported are oleic acid (21.68%), γ-sitosterol (10.67%), Stigmasterol (5.13%), 3-β,5-α-stigmast-7-en-3-ol (4.23 %) and other constituents were found to be in traceable quantities. Conclusion: GC-MS analysis of roots of Aerva lanata revealed certain interesting facts of presentation of various phytoconstituents. The presence of various phytoconstituents contributes to the medicinal activity of the plant.