PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS OF WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Objective: The Indian traditional system of medicine, namely Ayurveda and Siddha, are primarily based on the use of the whole plant or different parts of plant singly or in combination to make multifactorial formulations. The use of plant drugs, however, demands correct identification of species and the characterization of phytoconstituents. Materials and Methods: The plants reported for their wound healing property in the Western Ghats by tribal community viz. Semecarpus anacardium L. (Bibba), Argemone mexicana L. (Firangi Dhotara), Cocculus hirsutus L. (Vasanvel), Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. (Dhatki) were identified, authenticated and processed. The plant materials were subjected to morphological and microscopical evaluations. The proximate analysis (moisture content, ash values, extractive values and foreign organic matters) of powdered drugs were carried out. The powdered plant materials were extracted by a Soxhlet extraction process using different solvents. The concentrated extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical investigation. Results: The Semecarpus anacardium L. shows less moisture (fruits; 8.73 ± 0.95) and high inorganic content (leaves; 17.50 ± 0.92) as compared to other powdered drugs. The Argemone mexicana L. (35.68 ± 2.92), Cocculus hirsutus L. (41.53 ± 3.08) and Woodfordia fruticosa K. (29.26 ± 1.75 and 24.06 ± 3.01) shows high extractive values in methanolic extract whereas Semecarpus anacardium L. (fruits; 34.61 ± 0.75 and leaves 37.69 ± 1.86) shows in ethanolic extract. The least foreign organic matters (0.76 ± 0.45) were found in Woodfordia fruticosa K. flowers. The alkaloids, carbohydrates, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids and phenolic compounds were found in ethanolic and methanolic extracts. Conclusion: The data thus obtained by standardization of plant materials can be used during the preparation of polyherbal formulations to increase stability and efficacy.