PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL STANDARDISATION OF WHOLE PLANT OF ADIANTUM CAPILLUS VENERIS LINN

Traditional knowledge and ethno-botanical use of plants have been widely acknowledged all over the world. The cicatrizing properties of extracts obtained from this plant have been scientifically studied, attributing the main biological activity to its tannin and flavonoid content. Recent commercialization of the plant drug Adiantum capillus veneris Linn. requires pharmacognostical information to develop quality-control methods for raw materials and extracts produced with this plant drug. Macro and micro-morphological parameters were established to authenticate the genuine drug that allowed detection of adulterants usually found in commercial samples of this plant material. All the parameters were studied according to WHO guidelines and Indian Pharmacopoeia.  These morphological characteristics can be used for rapid identification of the drug and are particularly useful in the case of powdered materials. Physicochemical parameters such as total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, sulphated ash, crude fibre content, loss on drying, percentage of foreign matter and extractive values were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening in different solvents showed the presence of steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, fats, tannins and phenolic compounds. TLC profiling of plant extracts gives an idea about the presence of various phytochemicals. The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material in future investigations and application