PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF STEM AND LEAVES OF SALVADORA OLEOIDES DECNE

Abstract

Pharmacognostic study of powdered stem and leaves of Salvadora oleoides Decne. was carried out for the authentication of powdered drug. Preliminary phytochemical screening of stem and leaves mainly revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, acidic compounds, phenols, lipids, carbohydrates. Tannins were found to be present only in leaves while coumarins were detected only is stem. Alkaloids, glycosides, anthraquinones and steroids were found to be absent both in the stem and leaves. The pharmacognostic evaluation of both parts showed the visibility of varying colours using hot as well as cold test methods. Moreover, behaviour of the powdered drug was checked through various reagents using U.V light of both short and long wavelengths. Physicochemical studies such as ash values, extractive values and moisture content of plant parts were carried out to confirm the identity of plant and to assure the quality and purity of the drug. Total ash content of leaves and stem was estimated to be 33.59% and 11.56% respectively. Water soluble ash content of leaves and stem was found to be 12.76% and 4.07% respectively. HCl and HNO₃ insoluble ash content of the leaves was found to be higher as compared to the stem i.e. 5.09% and 5.97% in leaves and 1.69 and 2.3% in stem respectively. Extractive values such as water soluble extractive values, alcohol soluble extractive values, benzene soluble extractive values and chloroform soluble extractive values were also found to be higher in leaves as compared to that of the stem i.e. 20.85%, 17.25%, 5.67% and 3.94% in leaves compared to 19.15%, 8.71%, 3.22% and 3.59% respectively in stem.