PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF NERIUM INDICUM

The study is aimed at development of physicochemical parameters and to investigate the active principle present in Nerium indicum. Nerium indicum (Apocynacea) commonly known as kanner is an important plant used against various disorders in indigenous system of medicine such as cardiotonic, antibacterial and antidiabetic. Thus from the extensive literature survey it was revealed that no reports were available on microscopic evaluation, standardization parameters and chemo profile of Nerium indicum to check the identity and purity of the drug. The present work embodies the investigations carried out to establish methods for quality control of drugs as per who guidelines: complete botanical evaluation which comprises macroscopic, microscopy physicochemical parameters like loss on drying extractive value, foaming index, ash value and to investigate the Phytochemical present the extract in the preliminary level with respect to thin layer chromatography were also carried out for the quality control of the drug. Thus, it was thought worthwhile to explore this plant on the basis of these standardization parameters. The study will provide referential information for the correct identification of the crude drug.