Objective: The primary aim of the study was to establish the pharmacognostic standards along with nutritional values on the important medicinal herb Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC., commonly known as Parpata in South India. Material and Methods: Pharmacognostical, physicochemical, nutritional evaluation along with the TLC profiling and preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out. Results: Histological study of different parts of the plant revealed the presence of different cellular structures viz. stem showed the presence of multi cellular to unicellular trichomes, collateral vascular bundles, starch grains etc. Mesophyll of the leaves was embedded with starch grains with clustered calcium oxalate and prism shaped crystals. Anomocytic stomata were present on both the epidermis of the leaf. Powder microscopy exhibited multi cellular trichomes, clustered calcium oxalate, fibres etc. Physicochemical and histochemical studies revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites and different minerals within the acceptable limits. Thin layer chromatographic profiling showed different spots suggesting the presence of specific phytoconstituents in different extracts. The plant also revealed good nutritional value with calorific value of about 245 kcal/100g; Vitamin C 112 mg/100 g and higher amount of calcium etc. Conclusion: The results are beneficial to establish the quality control parameters of the plant species and may be served as future reference for the identification and authentication of the genuine crude drug and also provide sufficient data to recognize the use of the plant as dietary suppliment.

Introduction: Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn., known as Arjuna, is an important medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional systems of medicine. This plant is being used to cure various ailments in India for several years. According to Pushpaayurvedah written by Priya Vrat Sharma, Arjuna flowers are used as one of the chief ingredient in some Ayurvedic formulations, which are used for preventing of baldness and graying of hairs, i.e., Mahanila taila, Nilabindu taila, kasmaryadi taila, Ketakyadi taila. It is also useful in Helminthiasis (Krimiroga), raktapitta (internal hemorrhage), and for some poisons. Though many therapeutics uses have been prescribed in Ayurveda for Arjuna flowers in addition to the other parts, no work has been carried out on flower part. Hence, the present study has been attempted for the first time. Physicochemical analysis, such as loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and different extractive values and preliminary phytochemical screening for various groups of secondary metabolites has been carried out as per standard protocols. Aim: The present study was carried out to establish pharmacognostical standards and important identification/diagnostic characteristics for identification of Terminalia arjuna flowers. Materials and methods: Flower material was collected from its natural habitat in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, and authenticated by subject expert, Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The flowers were shade dried, powdered, and used for tests. The macro-, microscopical, physicochemical, and preliminary phytochemical studies have been carried out by adopting standard methods. Results: The microscopic characteristics of the flowers showed the presence of abundant combretaceous-type trichomes, rosette and clustered type of calcium oxalate crystals, reddish orange tannin content, resin ducts, endothecium cells, and abundant rounded pollen grains in three colporate and in monads.