Pelagia Research Library. Histological and physico-chemical studies of Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser Stem - A common parasitic medicinal plant

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) Danser Stem - A common parasitic medicinal plant Vijay Sodde, Nipun Dashora, Kirti.

1 Available online at Der Pharmacia Sinica, 2011, 2 (1): ISSN: CODEN (USA): PSHIBD Histological and physico-chemical studies of Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser Stem - A common parasitic medicinal plant Vijay Sodde, Nipun Dashora, Kirti. Prabhu, Bhagat Jaykumar and Richard Lobo* Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India _ ABSTRACT This paper presents a detailed pharmacognostical and physico- chemical study of the stems of the plant Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser, Loranthaceae, an important plant in the Indian system of medicine. There were no pharmacognostical reports of this plant, particularly to determine the anatomical and other physico-chemical standards required for its quality control. The stems were studied using light, conofocal microscopy. The physicochemical, morphological and histological parameters carried out as per WHO guidelines of quality control methods for medicinal plant materials. The present study aims at developing a standardized profile of the stem of M. parasiticus, which would be of immense use to identify and establish the authenticity of the plant M. parasiticus. Key words: Macrosolen parasiticus; microscopy; standardization; Pharmacognosy, physicochemical. _ INTRODUCTION The Loranthaceae is a family in the group commonly known as mistletoes. The family comprises about 60 genera and 700 species and is widely distributed in all tropical regions and also in the southern land masses. Its species are mostly woody perennials which occur as aerial parasites of other dicotyledons [1]. Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser is a parasitic shrub, found in the Western Ghats. The opposite leaves up to 12.5X 5cm, ovate to oblong, or lanceolate, obtusely acuminate at apex, glabrous, petiolate, flower sessile, in 2-3 decussate pairs with short axillary peduncles, corolla up to 5cm long tube like and pink in colour. It has stem thickened at nodes, like mistletoe [2]. There is no pharmacognostical report on the stem of the plant to determine the anatomical and physicochemical standards required for the quality control of this medicinal crude drug plant. 217

2 Hence, the present investigation includes Macroscopic, microscopic and physicochemical analysis of stem of M. parasiticus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material and authentication Stems of M. parasiticus were collected from healthy plants from in and around Manipal, Karnataka, India during the month of September. The plant was identified and authenticated by Dr. Gopalakrishna Bhat, taxonomist at Poorna Prajna College Udupi, Karnataka, India. A voucher specimen (PP 565) has been deposited in the museum of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis The macroscopy and microscopy of the plant were studied according to the method of Brain and Turner[3]. For the microscopical study, cross sections were prepared and stained as per the procedure of Johansen[4]. The powder analysis was done according to the official method [5-7] Physicochemical analysis Physicochemical values such as percentage of ash and extractive values were performed according to the official methods [8,9]. Phytochemical screening Preliminary phytochemical screening was done for different extractives which were prepared by successive solvent extraction of the powdered leaf drug with different known solvents in increasing order of polarity viz petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone ethanol and finally chloroform-water[10,11]. RESULT Macroscopic characteristics Stem showed small twigs of aerial branches ranging from 2 mm to 2.5 cm in thickness with bulged nodes having two opposite leaves; the bark of stem is thin, dark brown and specked with lighter brown uniformly distributed lenticels, slightly rough to touch, the wood yellowish-brown after removal of thin bark; fracture irregular and fibrous, astringent taste with no distinct odour. Microscopic investigation Transverse section of the stem is circular in outline. The outermost layer consists of cork with few layers of dark brown, irregular parenchymatous cells, the inner cork is made up of few layers of radially arranged in regular rows of colourless lignified parenchymatous cells. Below the cork the region consisting of Cortex, made up of many layers of tangentially elongated cells interspersed with few stone cells either single or in groups of two. Patches of pericyclic fibres appear outside phloem throughout the cortex; phloem seen in several thin patches around the well-developed xylem. Xylem occupies more or less 1/3 of the T.S and is traversed regularly by 1 to 4 seriate radially elongated lignified medullary ray cells and consists of well-developed vessels, xylem fibres, tracheids and xylem parenchyma. Medullary ray cells are interrupted by small groups of sclereids; pith occupies the central part of the stem, consists of thin walled, rounded or polygonal lignified parenchymatous cells; small groups of sclereids also seen in this region. 218

pitted thickenings, groups of sclereids, tannins,

3 Powder characteristic Powder characteristic of the stem revealed the presence of vessel with simple pitted thickenings, groups of sclereids, tannins, lignified pith cells, spindle shape lignified fibres, Cork cell. 219

4 Physicochemical Investigation Physicochemical parameters i.e. total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, water, alcohol and ether soluble extractive value of Macrosolen parasiticus stem are shown in (table 1 and 2). Table 1. Ash values of the stem powder of M. parasiticus. Parameters Total ash Acid insoluble ash Water soluble ash Values %w/w 4.35 %w/w 0.35 %w/w 2.8 %w/w Table-2. Extractive values of the stem powder of M. parasiticus. Parameters Values %w/w Water soluble extractive 13 Ethanol soluble extractive 9.7 Ether soluble extractive 3 Preliminary phytochemical screening Preliminary phytochemical screening mainly revealed the presence of carbohydrates, phytosterols, fixed oils and phenolic compounds, saponins,proteins and falvonoides (Table-3) Table.3. Preliminary phytochemical screening of stem powder of M. parasiticus Test Petroleum Benzene Chloroform Acetone Ethanol Water ether Alkaloids Carbohydrates Phytosterols Fixed oils and fats Saponins Phenolic compounds and tannins Proteins Gums and mucilages Flavonoids DISCUSSION Plant materials were used throughout developed and developing countries as natural remedies for the cure of the aliments, they represent a substantial proportion of the global drug market. It is therefore essential to establish internationally recognized guidelines for setting standard parameters for its correct identity and purity. Macroscopic and microscopic,physico-chemical and preliminary phtochemical screening study on these crude drugs will setup a base for its identification among closely related species of the same plant and its adulteration. CONCLUSION As there is no pharmacognostical anatomical work on this medicinal plant, the present work was taken up, with a view to lay down the standards which could be useful to deceit the authenticity 220

5 of this medicinally useful plant. Macro and microscopical standards disused here can be consider as identifying parameters to substantiate and authenticate the drug. Acknowledgment The authors sincerely thank Manipal College of Pharmaceutical sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India for providing all facilities to carry out this study. REFERENCES [1] B.A. Barlow, D.wiens, The cytogeography of the Loranthaceous Mistletoes, Taxon., 1971,20 (2/3), [2] Bhat, K. G; Flora of Udupi, Manipal Press Limited, Manipal [3] Brain KR, Turner TD; The Practical Evaluation of Phytopharmaceuticals, Wright- Scientechnica, Bristol, 1975a. [4] Johansen DA; Plant Microtechnique, McGraw Hill, New York, [5] Brain KR, Turner TD; The Practical Evaluation of Phytopharmaceuticals, Wright- Scientechnica, Bristol, 1975b. [6] Kokate CK; Practical Pharmacognosy, Vallabh Prakashan, New Delhi, 1986a. [7] Evans WC; Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy, W.B. Sounders Company Ltd, London, [8] The Indian Pharmacopoeia. 4 th ed, Vol. II. The Controller of Publications, New Delhi [9] WHO/PHARM/92.559/rev.1., Quality Control Methods formedicinal Plant Materials, Organisation Mondiale De La Sante, Geneva, [10] Kokate C K; Practical Pharmacognosy, 1st ed, Vallabh Prakashan, New Delhi, [11] Harborne J B; Methods of extraction and isolation. In: Phytochemical Methods, Chapman & Hall, London,

PHARMA SCIENCE MONITOR AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

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