PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES ON STEM BARK OF CORDIA OBLIQUA WILLD.

Cordia obliqua Willd var. obliqua. is a medium sized, broad leaved deciduous tree. It is found growing not only all over Asia but nearly the whole of the globe. Cordia obliqua (F. Boraginaceae) is traditionally used against fever, chest disease, leprosy, gonorrhoea and helminthes. Bark is bitter, mild astringent and tonic and used in general debility and convalescence. Decoction of the bark is used as a gargle in sore mouth. Juice obtained from the bark relieves severe colicky pains. Bark is anthelmintic, constipating, cooling, depurative and used in vitiated conditions of kapha, pitta and leprosy. In view of its medicinal importance, a complete study on macroscopic, microscopic characters and analytical parameters of stem bark have been made and presented. Histological studies were conducted by infiltration method. Anatomical features of the bark were studied using transectional, radial and tangential longitudinal sections. Powder characters were analysed and micrometrial measurements of the cells/tissues were carried out. Analytical parameters include ash values, extractive values and crude fibre content. Findings of this work are useful for compilation of monograph for the proper identification and quality control of the stem bark of Cordia obliqua.