Ekta D. Patel et al, IJCTPR, 2015, 3(4): 984–988 ISSN: 2321-3760 International Journal of Current Trends in Pharmaceutical Research Journal Home Page: www.pharmaresearchlibrary.com/ijctpr Research Article Open Access Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Evaluation of Leaves of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard E. D. Patel*1, N. J. Patel2, K. L. Vegad1, D. N. Jadav1 1Department of Pharmacology, Sharda School of Pharmacy, Gujarat, India 2Department of Pharmacology, Shree S. K. Patel College of pharmaceutical Edu. & Res., Kherva, Gujarat, India A B S T R A C T The term pharmacognosy, a constituent scientific discipline of pharmacy, has been in use for nearly 200 years and it refers to the studies on natural product drugs. The present study deals with the macroscopic and microscopic studies of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard leaf is commonly known as Rayan, traditionally used as antioxidant, antimicrobial, immune stimulant, anti ulcer, anti bacterial and antidiabetic. In the present work fresh leaf was studied for pharmaconostic evaluations, including examination of morphological and microscopic characters, physicochemical parameter, phytochemical test, extractive values and fluorescence study. The anatomy of the leaf was studied by taking transverse section which showed anomocytic stomata, unicellular trichomes, spongy parenchyma etc. Powder microscopic examination showed presence of pericyclic fibers, spiral xylem vessels, phloem fiber and stomata. Physicochemical parameters and fluorescence analysis of the powder and extract were also carried out. The phytochemical test revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and saponin in methanol extract. The present investigation on Manilkara hexandra leaf might be useful to supplement information in regard to its identification parameters. Such studies are important in the way of acceptability of herbal drugs in present scenario of lacking regulatory laws to control quality of herbal drugs. Keywords: Manilkara hexandra, Pharmacognostic evaluation, phytochemical test, Pharmacognosy, Anomocytic stomata A R T I C L E I N F O CONTENTS 1. Introduction . 985 2. Materials and Methods . .985 3. Results and discussion . .985 4. Conclusion . .. .. .988 5. Acknowledgement. .. .. 988 6. References . 988 Article History: Received 26 April 2015, Accepted 30 May 2015, Available Online 15 July 2015 *Corresponding Author Ekta D. Patel Department of Pharmacology, Sharda School of Pharmacy, Gujarat, India Manuscript ID: IJCTPR2571 PAPER-QR CODE Citation: Ekta D. Patel, et al. Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Evaluation of Leaves of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard. Int. J. Curnt. Tren. Pharm, Res., 2015, 3(4): 984-988. International Journal of Current Trends in Pharmaceutical Research 984 Ekta D. Patel et al, IJCTPR, 2015, 3(4): 984–988 ISSN: 2321-3760 Copyright © 2015 Ekta D. Patel, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 1. Introduction Pharmacognosy has always been a translational or information resources, New Delhi, India. A voucher multidisciplinary science, most recently emphasized in the specimen (NISCAIR/RHMD/Consult/ 2013/ 2256/37) is discussion of modern pharmacognosy, as described by deposited in NISCAIR, New Delhi. The fresh plant material Bohlin and co-workers [1]. In the last few decades there has collected was thoroughly cleaned. It was then homogenized been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine. to fine powder and stored in air-tight bottles for further According to World Health Organization (WHO) the studies. macroscopic and microscopic description of a medicinal Pharmacognostic studies plant is the first step towards establishing its identity and Macroscopy purity and should be carried out before any tests are Morphological observation of Manilkara hexandra leaf was undertaken [2]. done. It includes shape, size, surface characteristics, apex, base, margin, color, odour, taste etc. by using simple In older time, vaidyas used to treat patients on individual microscope. basis and prepared drugs according to the requirement of Microscopy the patients. But the scene has been changed now herbal Microscopic studies were done by preparing a thin medicines are being manufactured on a large scale in transverse section of the leaf of Manilkara hexandra mechanical units, where manufacturers are facing many (Roxb.) Dubard. The section was cleared with chloral problems regarding the identity and purity [3,4]. Manilkara hydrate solution, stained with phloroglucinol and hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard (Syn: Mimusops hexandra hydrochloric acid and mounted with glycerin. Powder of Roxb.) (Sapotaceae) is a large evergreen tree widely the dried leaves was used for the observation of powder distributed throughout the India and other tropical countries microscopical characters. The powdered drug was (Fig 1 a & b). The leaf is immune stimulant, antioxidant, separately treated with phloroglucinol and HCl solution, antimicrobial, anti ulcer, anti bacterial and antidiabetic [5]. glycerin and iodine solution to determine the presence of lignified cells, calcium oxalate crystals, trichomes and The therapeutic activity of herbs is because of constituents starch grains [7]. present in them and varies because the chemical Quantitative microscopy constituents vary from various sources. Correct Physicochemical parameters were determined as per identification of the starting material is therefore an guidelines of WHO [2]. Total ash, water insoluble ash and essential prerequisite to ensure reproducible quality of loss on drying were determined. Alcohol and water soluble herbal medicine which contributes to its safety and efficacy. extractive values were determined to find out the amount of The present work is aimed with the pharmacognostical, water and alcohol soluble components [8,9]. physicochemical and fluorescence analysis of Manilkara Extraction and preparation of plant extract hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard leaf [6]. The leaves were air-dried at room temperature for a week and powdered by grinder. Five hundred grams of the powered plant material was taken and extracted with methanol using Soxhlet extraction method. Extracts were collected, dried, weight and percentage yield was calculated. The extract was stored in a desiccator at room temperature. Fluorescence analysis Powdered leaf parts and methanolic extract was subjected to analysis under day/visible light and ultra violet light after treatment with various chemical and organic reagents [10]. Phytochemical screening The crude methanolic extract of Manilkara hexandra was screened phytochemically for the presence of constituents Figure 1: (a) Plant Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard by utilizing standard methods for phytochemical test [11, (b) Leaf of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard 12, 13]. 2. Materials and Methods 3. Results and Discussion Plant material authentication The Pharmacognostic study is the major and reliable criteria The mature green leaves of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) for identification of plant drugs. The Pharmacognostic Dubard. Were collected in the morning locally from Gandhi parameters are necessary for confirmation of the identity of nagar District, Gujarat, India in the month of June 2013. the crude drug. The detailed and systematic The plant was identified and authenticated by the botanist, pharmacognostic evaluation would give valuable from the National institute of science communication and information for future studies. International Journal of Current Trends in Pharmaceutical Research 985 Ekta D. Patel et al, IJCTPR, 2015, 3(4): 984–988 ISSN: 2321-3760 Morphological evaluation epidermis shows more number of trichomes and stomata The morphological studies revealed that the leaf is dark than the upper epidermis (Figure 2c). Single layer of green in colour with characteristic odour & slight bitter elongated palisade cells were present below the upper taste (Table 1). epidermis and spongy parenchymatous cells were present above the lower epidermis. Table 1: Identification of morphological feature S .No Features Observation Table 3: Transverse section of leaf 1 Colour Dark green Sr. no Features Observation (Upper surface) colour 1 Trichomes Simple, unicellular, 2 Colour Light green conical and thick (Lower surface) colour trichomes with single 3 Odour Aromatic covering 4 Taste Bitter 2 Upper Present 5 Shape Ellipticle epidermis 6 Size 7-12 cm 3 Mid rib Thick walled 7 Arrangement Alternate collenchyma cells 4 Lamina Differentiate in to Macroscopical study: (Mesophyll) palisade and The leaves are alternate, coriaceous, elliptic, oblong or parenchymatous cells obovate, emarginated at apex, glabrous, dark green in 5 Vascular Collateral. i.e. xylem and colour (Table 2). bundle phloem were present on the same radius side by Table 2: Botanical evaluation of Manilkara hexandra Leaf side. The xylem was S. No Leaf Portion Observation lignified while phloem was non-lignified. 1 Apex Emarginate 6 Sclerenchyma Pericyclic fibers 2 Margin Entire cell containing sclerenchyma 3 Shape Ellipticle cells 4 Venation Reticulate 7 Stomata Anomocytic stomata Pinnate 5 Midrib Continuous from base to apex 6 Dorsal Surface Glabrous 7 Ventral Surface Hairy 8 Petiole Petiolate (Approx 1 cm) 10 Petiole Shape Cylindrical 11 Colour Olive Green 12 Leaf Base Symmetrical Microscopical study The microscopic studies of leaves showed following character