Chapter 2

Pharmacognosy

02-2002-01-24-0222-SHAMIMA HASHMI, SINGH, V.K. AND LAL, J. (Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, P. Box 70, Aligarh 202 001, India) Botanical Identification and Pharmacognostic Details of the Market Samples of ‘Karanj’. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 7 (Ref 8).

Pharmacognostic studies on the market samples of the drug ‘Karanj’ have brought to light that the seeds of Mucuna cochinchinensis Chevel, are being widely used as adulterant/substitute for this drug instead of its well confirmed botanical source Pongamia glabra Vent, in Indian Systems of Medicine. The details are discussed in the paper.

02-2002-01-25-0223-MOORTHY, P., VENKATAPIAH, V. AND NAGARAJAN, M. (Department of Pharmacognosy, K.M. College of Pharmacy, Uthangudi, Madurai 625 107, Tamil Nadu, India) Pharmacognostic Study oiMoringa oleifera Lamk. — An Important Drug of Indigenous System of Medicine. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 19 (Ref 11).

On account of the importance of drug Moringa oleifera Lamk. in the indigenous systems of treatment, pharmacognostic studies have been carried out with respect to morphology, histology, linear measurements and quantitative microscopy such as stomatai index, vein termination, vein islet numbers and palisade ratio to fix-up its pharmacopoeial standards.

02-2002-01-26-0224-BISHNUPRIYA DHAR, BILLORE, K.V. AND GUPTA, O.P. (Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, 61-65 Institutional Area, Opp. D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110 058, India) An Evaluation of Some Controversial Ayurvedic Drugs of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 18 (Ref 36).

The indigenous systems of medicine in our country have deep roots and have infact become a part of our culture. In ancient times most of the drugs used for therapeutic use were of plant origin and were mentioned in the Ayurvedic literature. With the passage of time and lack of proper description, voucher specimens and communication gap, the identity of some of these drugs could not be ascertained and confusion started. As a result, a number of medicinal herbs were assigned to one name while the same herb was used for more than one crude drugs. This controversy resulted in the use of substitutes and adulterants. A number of other factors such as geographical barrier, over exploitation etc. further added to the problem. In the present communication over all problem of controversial drugs has been discussed at length and critical observations on some of the important Ayurvedic drugs of controversial nature like Sariva, Rasna, Pashanbheda etc. have been made and evaluated with reference to their present status and identity. It is earnestly hoped that the present observations on these drugs may provide some basis in solving the controversy or in establishing the recognised substitutes.

02-2002-01-27-0225-KAUSHAL KUMAR (Taxonomy and Ethnobotany Section, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226 001, India) Notable Pertinence of Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. in Tribal Medicine of India: An Ethnopharmacognostical Investigation. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 9 (Ref 40) (see Abstract 07-2002-01-27-0870).

02-2002-01-28-0226-IBRAHIM, H., ABDURAHMAN, E.M., SHOK, M., ILYAS, N., MONDAY, S. AND CHORDIMA, W. (Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria) Pharmacognostic Studies on the Stem of Carissa edulis Vahl. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 11 (Ref 13).

The plant Carissa edulis (commonly known as “cizaki” in Hausa) is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of toothache, chest complaints, cough, stomach ulcers, lumbago, inflamed glands, worms and as aphrodisiac. Macroscopical, microscopical and chemo-microscopical examinations have been carried out on the stem (powdered bark and anatomical sections). Also, evaluative parameters, ash value, acid insoluble ash, moisture content and extractive values were determined as a part of pharmacognostic studies. This could serve to provide diagnostic characters for the identification of drug.

02-2002-01-29-0227-KAUSHAL KUMAR (Taxonomy and Ethnobotany Section, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226 001, India)

Ethnopharmacognostical Studies on Panicum repens L. Th: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy, V. 1, p 8 (Ref 22) (see Abstract 07-2002-01-29-0871).

02-2003-07-24-0228-SHAMIMA HASHMI AND SINGH, V.K. (Pharmacognosy Research Unit, Regional Research Institutes of Unani Medicine, Post Box-70, Aligarh 202 001, India) Importance of Pharmacognosy as an Aid to Drug Standardization Programme: A Review. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy II, V. 7, p 8 (Ref 23).

The communication highlights the importance of pharmacognostic studies and their application as an aid to standardization of crude drugs used in Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. Historical background of the subject, conventional and modern pharmacognosy, establishing botanical identity of certain controversial drugs and fixing-up pharmacopoeial standards of crude drugs based on pharmacognostic studies have been discussed.

02-2003-07-40-0229-SHAMIMA HASHMI AND SINGH, V.K. (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, 61-55, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110 058) Some Important Aquatic Pharmacognostical Standardization of Some Important Herbal Drugs of Indian Systems of Medicine. In: Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy II, V. 7, p 13 (Ref 14).

The present communication deals with the pharmacognostical standardization of some highly potent crude drugs of herbal origin viz. Kachnal (Bauhinia racemosa Lamk.), stem bark, Kishneez (Coriandrum sativum Linn.) leaf, Dhawa (Woodfordia floribunda Salisb.) flowers, Gandana (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.) seeds and kharbooza (Cucumis melo Linn.) seeds. In the indigenous systems of medicine all these drugs have been frequently used in crude form to relieve a variety of human ailments due to their astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and refrigerant property. The standardization is carried out on basis of botanical as well as phytochemical studies including parameters such as - organoleptic features, macro and microscopic characters, powder analysis, reactions with chemicals, ash, extractive and Rf values. The study contributors to the development of standardization parameters of herbal drugs used in Indian systems of medicine.

02-2005-09-09-0230-RAJEEV KR. SHARMA (Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine, CGO Complex, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India) Pharmacognostical Standardization of Roots of ‘Shalparni’ (Desmodium gangeticum DC.). In: Plant Bioactive in Traditional Medicine, V. 9, p 16 (Ref 32).

Root of Desmodiumgangeticum DC. has been studied to lay down standards for quality control of the drug. Pharmacognostic, physico-chemical, fluorescence, elementological, spectrophotometric and chromatographic informations have been furnished. Diagnostic features of root are uni to biseriate medullary rays traversed through secondary xylem and phloem upto phelloderm, patches of fibre groups fairly distributed in phelloderm, secondary phloem and xylem, starch grains and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals.

02-2005-09-10-0231-RAJEEV KR. SHARMA (Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine, CGO Complex, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh-201 002, India) Pharmacognostical Studies on the Root of Calotropis procera R. Br. In: Plant Bioactive in Traditional Medicine, V. 9, p 15 (Ref31).

Pharmacognosy of the root of Calotropis procera R.Br. has been carried out to lay down standards for the genuine drug ‘Arka’. The salient characters by which the drug can be easily identified are whitish grey, wrinkled root with bitter taste, uni to tetraseriate medullary rays, laticiferous cells in phelloderm and secondary phloem, prismatic and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate. Other parameters studied include physico-chemical constants, fluorescence behavior, U.V. spectrophotometry, chromatography, etc.

02-2006-12-17-0232-GALATI, E.M., TZAKOU, O., MICELI, N., PIZZIMENTI, F. AND RAPISARDA, A. (Department of Pharmaco-Biological, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Vill. SS. Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy) Pharmacognostic Screening on Nepeta sibthorpii Benth. In: Globalisation of Herbal Health, V. 12, p 16 (Ref 72).

Phytochemical and biological studies were carried out on aerial part of Nepeta sibthorpii Benth. (Lamiaceae), an endemic plant of the Balkan peninsula. Glandular tissues, sites of biogenesis and storage of essential oil, were characterized; the oil contains monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and cyclopentanoid iridodial derivatives. The main component is the epinepetalactone (4aa, 7aa, 7a[3-nepetalactone) (83.1-94.5%). The oil showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger. From the methanolic extract, the epinepetalactone, ursolic acid and a polyphenol fraction containing rutin, luteoline derivatives and chlorogenic acid, were isolated and characterized. Essential oil, methanol extract and active principles showed anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, together to neuropharmacological effects. The biological activities could be attributed to the synergic action of all the active principles of the plant. Micromorphological observation allowed to obtain diagnostic element for identification of this species.

02-2006-12-32-0233-SHALINI ISRANI, NAYANA S. KAPADIA AND MAMTA B. SHAH (Department of Pharmacognosy, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380 009, India) Comparative Pharmacognostic Study of Vogelia indica and Plumbago rosea Roots. In: Globalisation of Herbal Health, V. 12, p 11 (Ref 11).

Vogelia indica Gibson, (Family: Plumbaginaceae) a totally different plant from Plumbago rosea Linn, is reported to be used as Red Chitrak in western and southern parts of India. The present study concerns pharmacognostical aspects to authenticate the identity of Vogelia indica and to evaluate plumbagin content in its roots. The work also includes a comparative study of P. rosea and V. indica to distinguish the two drugs, both of which are used under the common vernacular name of‘Rato Chitaro’ (Red Chitrak). V. indica and P. rosea were studied for their morphological and microscopical characters. The morphological and anatomical features of the roots show a considerable variation in comparison to Plumbago rosea and thus an easy demarcation between the two drugs is possible. Since Plumbaginales characteristically show presence of plumbagin, the roots of V indica were screened phytochemically for the presence of plumbagin. Standard plumbagin was isolated from the roots of P. rosea. The detection and estimation of plumbagin in Vogelia indica is reported for the first time in this work. A novel HPTLC based protocol was developed as a resort to determine and compare the plumbagin content in V. indica and P. rosea.

02-2006-13-11-0234-SHAMIMA HASHMI, QASIM, M.A., ARFEEN, S. AND SINGH, V.K. [Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CCRUM, Government of India), Post Box-70, Aligarh 202 001, U.P., India] Pharmacognostical Standardization of Galls of Mayaphal (Quercus infectoria Oliv.) — A Multiaction Drug of Indian Systems of Medicine. In: Search for Natural Drugs, V. 13, p 9 (Ref 18).

Pharmacognosy of the galls of Quercus infectoria Oliv. has been carried out to lay down standards for the genuine drug - Mayaphal. The study includes macro-morphology, micro-morphology, powder analysis, fluorescence behaviour, chemical constituents and physico-chemical constants etc. Some of the diagnostic characters by which the drug can be easily identified are tough, globular (about 2 cm) greyish coloured galls, studded with numerous tuberosites, a central cavity internally, parenchymatous cells in starch grains, prismatic and rosette crystals and a high tannin content.

02-2006-13-23-0235-DUARTE, M.R. AND SANTOS, F.O.S. (Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidade Federal do Parana, Rua Pref. Lothario Meissner, 632, 80210-170, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) Leaf Anatomical Characters of Stachys byzantina C. Koch, Lamiaceae. In: Search for Natural Drugs, V. 13, p 8 (Ref 30).

Stachys byzantina C. Koch (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb with elliptic lanceolate and densely pilose leaves. It is employed in Brazilian traditional medicine as analgesic, mainly to treat headaches. This work has analysed the foliar anatomical characters, aiming to contribute to the species identification. The botanical material was fixed, freehand sectioned or embedded in glycol methacrylate and sectioned by microtome, stained either with astra blue and basic fuchsine or toluidine blue. Histochemical tests and ultrastructure analysis were also conducted. The blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin and slightly striate cuticle, anomocytic and diacytic stomata on both surfaces and dorsiventral mesophyll. The midrib and petiole are concave-convex and traversed by collateral vascular bundles. Numerous glandular and non-glandular trichomes are seen. The latter is long, pluricellular and uniseriate, with an acute apex. The glandular trichomes are peltate and capitate and may have uni- or pluricellular head and stalk.

02-2007-16-15-0236-SHAMIMA HASHMI, SINGH, V.K. AND SIDDIQUI, M.K. (Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CCRUM, Government of India), Post Box-70, Aligarh 202 001, India) Pharmacognostical Study, Cultivation Techniques and Economics of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Hemsl — A Boon for Diabetics. In: Phytomedicines, V. 16, p 7 (Ref9).

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Hemsl is an important commercial medicinal herb, known for its sugar-free sweetner for diabetics. The communication deals with pharmacognostic studies of its leaf, agrotechniques and economics of cultivation and suggests its large scale cultivation in north India with a view to provide remunerative returns to the farming community.

02-2008-22-25-0237-SHAH, U.D., SHAH, M.B. AND SALUJA, A.K. (Department of Pharmacognosy, A.R. College of Pharmacy, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India) A Pharmacognostical Study on Euphorbia hirta. Phytopharmacology and Therapeutic Values IV, V. 22, p 9 (Ref 24).

Fresh plants of Euphorbia hirta were studied for macro and microscopical characters. Quercitrin was isolated and identified by M.P. and UV spectral characteristics. HPTLC method was developed for quantification of quercitrin using precoated silica gel plates as a stationary phase and Toluene: Ethyl Acetate Acetone: Formic acid (5:4:4:0.5) as a mobile phase. The herb bears copious crisped hairs all over. Stem shows epidermis covered with simple multicellular hairs, pericyclic fibers in groups of 10-15, narrow phloem, wide zone of xylem and a small pith containing starch. Root showed cork, cortex, a narrow phloem and wood with starch being found scattered all over, except cork. Lamina is differentiated in to palisade and spongy parenchyma bearing latex glands. Midrib is transcurrent and shows 3-5 sets of vascular bundles. Phenolics, flavonoids, steroids and triterpenoids were found to be major components. HPTLC method was developed for quantification of quercitrin by scanning the plates at 254 nm. The quality parameters and HPTLC method developed would serve as useful tool in standardization of E. hirta.