PHARMACOGNOSTIC STANDARDIZATION OF MADHUCA INDICA LEAF AND STEM, AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacognostic characters of Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel leaf and stem an important traditional medicinal plant. Method: In the present investigation, pharmacognostic parameters like macroscopic and microscopic and powder characters of leaf and stem were studied. Preliminary phytochemical and physiochemical analyses were done by using reported methods. Fluorescent behavior of the leaf and stem powder were also tested. Results: The macroscopic study showed that the leaf was simple and ovate with sinuate margin, acuminate at apex, decurrent at base and surface glabrous and venation was pinnate.  The microscopic study of leaf revealed the presence of dorsiventral type of cellular arrangement, unicellular trichomes, prismatic crystals and anomocytic stomata; while the microscopic study of stem revealed the presence of vascular bundles in zig zag form, large central collenchymatous pith.  Pith cells were polygonal in shape with minor angular thickenings. Physiochemical analysis of leaf showed total ash, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash as 4.6, 0.83 and 0.5 %w/w respectively while in stem it was 5.37, 1.5 and 1.0 %w/w respectively.  In both parts maximum extractive value was in methanol.  Phytochemical analysis revealed maximum amount of flavonoids in leaf and tannins in stem. Conclusions: Various pharmacognostical characters observed in this study will help in identification and standardization of M. indica; will also help in quality control and formulation development.