PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON ADHATODA VASICA NEES. SEED

Adhatoda vasica Nees. has been used in India for more than 2000 years. The drug contains leaf, stem, flower, fruit and seeds. The fruit which holds the most potentialof the herb is a small capsule with four seeds. No reports are available for the pharmacognostical study of the seed, hence the present study was undertaken to investigate the macroscopic, microscopic, powder microscopic, physicochemical, phytochemical analysis, TLC and HPTLC profile. The drug was mounted on FAA solution and sections were taken in rotary microtome, stained with toluidine blue; histochemical tests were observed. Loss on drying, total ash, water soluble and acid insoluble ash, water and alcohol soluble extractive were estimated as per WHO method. TLC/HPTLC studies were based on many trials to fix the better solvent system. The testa comprises outer sclerotesta of 40mm thick and inner sarcotesta. The parenchymatous zone is thin along the lateral part of the seed and it becomes wider and many layered at the chalazal end. The radicle is circular in sectional view which is 550 µm in diameter. Sarcotesta, cotyledons, oil bodies, starch grain and the sclerotesta which appears amoeboid in outline were observed in the powder microscopy. 3 spots under UV 254 nm, 4 spots each under 366 nm and after derivatization were observed in the TLC. 8 peaks at 254 nm, 2 peaks at 366 nm and 7 peaks at 540 nm were resolved in HPTLC.The results will be useful to establish the identification, authentication and practical application of the seed as an herbal drug.