PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF PACHYGONE OVATA (POIR.) MIERS EX HOOK. F. ET THOMS LEAF

Abstract

Pachygone ovata being one of the unexplored species of the menispermaceae family
has gained our attention to this study. Macroscopic features highlighted ovatelanceolate
leaves with an entire margin showing reticulate veination, microscopic
analyses indicated anomocytic type of stomata on the abaxial surface, presence of
starch grains in the parenchyma layer and unicellular and multicellular trichomes on
the midrib. Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed for further standardization,
which indicated low amounts of moisture (3.45) and low amounts of acid insoluble ash
(2.01). Fluorescence and phytochemical studies helped in concluding the nature of the
compounds and secondary metabolites present in the plant material, confirming the
presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, glycosides and alkaloids. Lowest phenolic
content was recorded in the hexane extract (85 ± 4 μg GAE/mg dw) while the highest
was found to be in the methanol extract of P.ovata (389 ± 4 μg GAE/mg dw). Only
ethnopharmalogical evidences in this age cannot suffice for the usage of plants, it is
now a prerequisite to authenticate the plants for safer health care, therefore the details
included in this paper will help in authentication of this plant in terms of identification
and quality assurance.