Anupam K Mangal

Pharmacognostical Standardization of Upodika- Basella alba L.: An Important Ayurvedic Antidiabetic Plant

Objective: To establish the pharmacognostic standards for the correct identification and standardization of an important Antidiabetic plant described in Ayurveda. Materials and Methods: Standardization was carried out on the leaf and stem of Basella alba L. with the help of the macro-morphological, microscopic, physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical studies. Results: Several specific characters were identified viz. clustered calcium oxalate crystals in the cortex region, absence of trichomes, succulent, thick, mucilaginous, fibrous stem. Rubiaceous type of stomata on both sides of the leaf. Quantitative microscopy along with physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical analysis were also established. Conclusion: The pharmacognostic standards could serve as the reference for the proper identification of the Basella alba L. which is an important anti-diabetic plant described in Ayurveda.

Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Screening of Allium sativum L. Leaf

Aim: Allium sativum L. is a cultivated medicinal plant known as Rasona in Ayurveda. In Asian countries, leaves of Lasuna are widely used in food recipes and as remedy for cough, asthma, malarial fever, facial paralysis, cardiac disease, etc. It is reported to have high medicinal as well as nutritional value. Therefore, it is felt necessary to study the macroscopy, microscopy, histochemical, physicochemical, and thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) parameters of leaf which are not reported earlier. Materials and methods: Collected plant specimen was identified, authenticated, and preserved in the herbarium section of the Institute. Shade dried leaves were made into powder. Macroscopic, microscopic, and physicochemical parameters were performed as per the standard procedures described in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). Fluorescence analysis, behavior of powdered drug with different chemical reagent, was performed as per the procedures given in the World Health Organization document/guidelines. Results: Organoleptic analysis showed that leaf powder is light yellowish green in color with pungent odor having acrid taste. Microscopic study revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata on both surfaces. The TLC of methanolic extract corresponds to gallic acid and quercetin standards. Conclusion: The findings would be useful for identification and standardization of leaf drug and would add the parameters in the API.

Medico-ethno Botanical Survey: An Overview of CCRAS Contributions

Aim: Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS) was initiated by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) in 1969 with the main aim of survey and documentation of medicinal plants of India used in Ayurveda system of medicine. Through its five peripheral institutes, namely Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders (RARIMD)— Bengaluru, Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for GastroIntestinal Disorders (RARIGID)—Guwahati, Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI)—Itanagar, RARI—Jhansi, and RARI—Ranikhet, the Council has surveyed every part of phytogeographic regions across the country, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. During these survey tours, various medicinal plants were collected and preserved as Herbarium and Museum specimens. The survey team collects and supplies authentic raw drug samples for studies under various projects inside and outside the Council, including the projects under Central Scheme of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee (APC). Herbarium and Museum centers located in various institutes of CCRAS are being used as reference centers for UG/PG/M.Phil./Ph.D. students and researchers for correct identification/authentication of their plant specimens or raw drug materials. Further, the folk-claims collected during the exploration work provide lead for validation and effective development of drugs based on traditional knowledge and not from any codified system of medicine. Ayurvedic ancient texts also explain the importance of medicinal plant survey.

Pharmacognostical Standardization of Goraksha pods: an important Nutritive and antidiabetic Plant

Objective: Goraksha or cluster beans are an annual legume found throughout India. It is also extensively cultivated for its pods used as vegetable for its high nutritive value, antidiabetic properties and for the source of guargum. Methods: Macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, histochemical studies and preliminary phytochemical studies on the pods of Goraksha has been carried out highlighting its importance along with important diagnostic characters, which will help in the identification of pods both in fresh form as well as in dry form. Results: Study revealed presence of distantly arranged elongated uniseriate warty trichomes in the outer most layer of epidermis, presence of stone cells, simple starch grains and very small calcium oxalate crystals in the hypodermal region. Presence of unevenly thickened row of palisade layer of macro sclereids in the outer most layer of cotyledon region. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids carbohydrates, phenols, proteins, saponins, starch, steroids, and tannins. Conclusion: The pharmacognostical standardization revealed the presence of various specific characters which are important for the identification of the genuine pods of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.

HPTLC Fingerprinting of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten from High Altitude Area of Western Himalaya

Abstract To establish the fingerprint profile of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten from the high altitude area of the western Himalaya using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Dried and powdered plant material of S. chirayita was successively extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol in the order of increasing polarity. The extracts so obtained were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and based on the presence and/or absence of phytochemical constituents, HPTLC fingerprinting analysis of ethyl acetate and methanol extract were carried out using CAMAG HPTLC system. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, saponins and lipids in various extracts. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts contained the maximum number of phytochemicals. HPTLC phytochemical fingerprinting led to the detection of altogether 21 compounds in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. However, greater numbers of compounds were detected in methanol extracts as compared to ethyl acetate extract. The chromatographic fingerprinting revealed the presence and variation in the phytochemical constituents with change in the polarity of the solvents. Further studies are required for the quantification of the compounds in various extracts and evaluation of their medicinal activities.