PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF STEM OF CAYRATIA TRIFOLIA (LINN.) DOMIN.

Cayratia trifolia (Linn.) Domin (Vitaceae) is a perennial climber, commonly known as fox grape in English, Amalbel, Ramchana in Hindi and Amlavetash in Sanskrit, found in India, Asia and Australia. The infusion of seeds along with extract of tubers is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes. Whole plant is used as diuretic, in tremors and splenopathy. It is reported to possess antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, hypoglycaemic, anticancer and diuretic activity etc. The present study was carried out to establish the pharmacognostical studies, physico-chemical parameters along with preliminary phytochemical screening of petroleum ether, chloroform, methanolic and aqueous extracts of Cayratia trifolia (Linn.) Domin. The macroscopical and microscopical characters were studied. The transverse section (T.S.) of stem indicated the arrangement of various cells in cork, cortex, phelloderm and pith region. The histochemical color reaction of T.S with different chemical reagents and preliminary phytochemical screening of various extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrate, flavonoids sterols, phenolic & tannins compounds. The physico-chemical parameters such as total, acid insoluble, water insoluble and sulphated ash (6.85, 0.47, 5.45 and 4.45%w/w respectively), loss on drying (8.17 %w/w) extractive values and fluorescence analysis of extracts and powder treated with different chemical reagents were studied under ordinary light, short and long UV lights. The foaming and swelling index were also studied.   These studies will be helpful in developing standards for quality, purity and sample identification of this plant.