PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND ANATOMICAL STUDY OF TWO SPECIES OF CALOTROPIS FROM CHANDIGARH

Medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric period for the cure of various diseases. Hence the herbal medicines occupy distinct position right from the primitive period to present day. Calotropis procera, a wild growing plant of family Asclepiadaceae, is well known for its medicinal properties. Different parts of this plant have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. Calotropis gigantea found in dry waste places, therapeutically used as Anti-cancer, intermittent fever, paralysed part of body painful joints, swelling, heals wounds (leaves). The present study was undertaken to analyse the various active phytochemical constituents and to study detailed anatomical features of two species of Calotropis (family: Asclepediaceae) i.e., C.procera, C.gigantea. A qualitative analysis was performed for detection of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids and flavanoids. HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) was used in identifying the qualitative and quantitative analysis of active principle index of two species of Calotropis present in the area of present study. Anatomical features of various plant parts were found useful for correct easy identification of commercial drug for ensuring purity