Microscopic and Physicochemical Evaluation of Leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn

Abstract

Objective:To study the pharmacognostic characters of a medicinally important crude drug, Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Methods: Various pharmacognostic parameters involved in organoleptic, microscopic, physicochemical, phytochemical and fluorescence evaluation were carried out. Results: The macroscopy study showed that the leaves was observed as sessile, obovate-oblong apex, tapered base, dentate margin, simple, serrate lamina, surface glabrous. The leaf microscopy showed the presence of diacytic stomata, unicellular covering trichomes, arc shaped vascular bundle which contain lignified xylem and non lignified phloem, cortical parenchyma and a thin strip of collenchyma, micro rosette calcium oxalate crystals. The powder characteristics of leaf showed the presence of lignified fibers, medullary rays, bordered pitted xylem vessels, calcium oxalate crystals, stomata, epidermal cells and covering trichomes. Physicochemical parameters like total ash value was 9.21%, water soluble ash 1.56%, acid insoluble ash 1.35%, swelling index 4 mL, loss on drying 1.09% and foreign matter was 0.20%w/w respectively where as stomatal indexes of upper and lower surfaces were 33.2 and 23, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, volatile oil, fats and oils, tannins and phenolic compounds. Conclusion: The present study provides the scientific data for the proper authentification and establishment of quality control standards for the therapeutic use of Sphaeranthus indicus.

Chemical profiling and anti-breast cancer potential of hexane fraction of Sphaeranthus indicus flowers

“…Similarly, an increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in MCF-7 cells treated with n-hexane fraction revealed the involvement of intrinsic pathway for the induction of apoptosis. Using GC-MS analysis, fats and oils, previously reported in the n-hexane fraction of S. indicus flowers [17], were also detected in the current study. However, detection of hexose sugars in the same fraction [17] could not be confirmed in this study.…”

“…Using GC-MS analysis, fats and oils, previously reported in the n-hexane fraction of S. indicus flowers [17], were also detected in the current study. However, detection of hexose sugars in the same fraction [17] could not be confirmed in this study. This variation in chemical composition of secondary metabolites might be due to various factors like extraction procedure, solvents, habitat, edaphic factors and climate conditions [13].…”

Pharmacognostical and Physicochemical Analysis of Cleome viscosa L. Seeds

“…which may produce a solid basis for the authenticity of the plant and also to distinguish the seeds of C. viscosa seeds other similar species. 20,21 The macroscopic characters were examined to identify the seed of the C. viscosa. The powder characters of a drug are mainly used in the identification of the drug in the powder form.…”

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“…[16] The phytochemical study of this plant has been done several times by other authors and they concluded that the ethanolic and water extract of this plant showed the maximum number of components and the present research agreed with the authors research. [17][18][19][20][21]…”