PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF EUPHORBIA PROSTRATA AIT.

Euphorbia prostrata Ait.(Euphorbiaceae) is a small, prostrate, annual green herb sometime purple tint in colour. It is widely distributed globally and used as antihemorrhoidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antidirroheal, antiasthmatic and for various skin diseases. The microscopy of root shows the presence of obliterated cork cells, phelloderm, cortex, endodermis, phloem, medulary rays and xylem; the stem shows the presence of multicellular trichome, cuticle, epidermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle, phloem, latex canal, xylem and pith; the leave reveal the presence of multicellular, multiseriate glandular hairs, epidermis, vascular bundles, stomata anomocytic and anisocytic. The vein islet number and vein termination number have also been determined. The powder study reveals the presence of epidermal cells, trichomes, parenchymatous cells, pollen grains, vessels, fibers and stomata. The water soluble, alcohol soluble and petroleum ether extractive values were determined. The total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash and sulphated ash were also observed. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and saponins in the alcoholic extract of the plant. This is the first report on pharmacognostical studies on this plant.