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Vitex purpurascens (Verbenaceae) is a close relative of Vitex negundo which is a very important anti-inflammatory drug mentioned in Ayurveda. Though V. purpurascens is found throughout India, its pharmacognostical study remains unexplored. A detailed pharmacognostic investigation of fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of leaves of V. purpurascens was carried out to determine its macromorphological, micromorphological and phytochemical profiles. Morphologically, the leaves have a distinct purple lower surface. Diagnostic characters of its powder include various trichomes like unicellular covering trichomes, multicellular covering trichomes, sessile glandular trichomes, collapsed covering trichomes, cystolithic trichomes, knee-shaped trichomes and other characters like pericyclic fibers, annular xylem vessels and anisocytic stomata. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of important classes of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids and carbohydrates. The result of the study can be useful in setting diagnostic indices for the identification and the preparation of the monograph of the plant open up the avenues for standardization of its formulation following pharmacological profiling and comparison with V. negundo .

Background: Two species of Karen - Nerium indicum and Thevetia peruviana are found distributed throughout tropical parts of India. Their leaves are used as cardiotonic and diuretic. Objectives: The present investigation deals with the comparative pharmacognostical study of the leaves of the two species and establishment of its quality parameters. Methods: Detailed morphological and qualitative as well as quantitative microscopic study was carried out. This was followed by phytochemical screening of the two species. Results: Leaf surface microscopy of N. indicum leaf shows straight-walled epidermal cells and anomocytic stomata whereas T. peruviana leaf shows wavy-walled epidermal cells and anisocytic stomata. The chief powder characterisics of N. indicum powder are horse-shoe shaped and annular xylem vessels, pericyclic fibres, hooked-top covering trichomes and calcium oxalate rosette crystals, whereas T. peruviana powder shows mainly the presence of rosette crystals, thereby making it easy to differentiate the two leaves. Various quantitative microscopic parameters were also established. Phenolics, cardenolides, and sterols were detected in both the species, but alkaloids were detected only in T. peruviana . Conclusion: The present work can serve as a useful tool in the identification, authentication and standardization of the plant material and distinguishing the two species from each other.

Background: Ficus krishnae (Moraceae) is also known as Krishna fig, Krishnas butter cup (E) and Makkhan Katori (H). Its aerial root is styptic, useful in syphilis, biliousness, dysentery, inflammation of liver etc. It has been proven to have anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity. Phenolic compounds and halogenated coumarins have been isolated from it. Objectives: However, no pharmacognostic work of this species has been reported so far, thus serving as a basis for initiation of the present work. Methods: Detailed morphological and qualitative as well as quantitative microscopic study was carried out. Results: A special feature of the leaves is that they have a pocket-like fold at the base. Chief features of the transverse section are the presence of hypodermis in the lamina, bilayered palisade and crescent-shaped vascular bundles. Chief powder characters are anomocytic stomata, spirally-thickened xylem vessels, dagger-shaped covering trichomes and cluster crystals of calcium oxalate. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and carbohydrates. Conclusion: This study, combined with quantitative microscopic data, can be useful in evaluation and detection of adulteration in plant material or formulations of the leaves of this species.

Oxystelma esculentum is a perennial twiner growing near water-logged areas in the Indian subcontinent. The leaves are traditionally used as diuretic, galactagogue, anthelmintic, antiulcer, laxative and antiperiodic. The plant is also used ethnomedicinally in throat infections, skin diseases and jaundice. The present investigation deals with the pharmacognostical study of the leaves of the plant and establishment of its quality parameters. The study revealed important diagnostic features. Transverse section of leaf showed the presence of a sheath of calcium oxalate rosette crystals in the mid-rib and 2-3 layered palisade in the lamina. Microscopy of the powdered leaves revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata, various types of covering trichomes and parenchymatous tissue filled with numerous rosette crystals. Various physico-chemical parameters and quantitative microscopic parameters were established. From the phytochemical screening, the leaves were found to contain cardenolides, flavonoids, phenolics and sugars, which were estimated by their respective procedures. The present work can serve as a useful tool in the identification, authentication and standardization of the plant material.

Objectives: Oxystelma esculentum R. Br. (Family: Asclepiadaceae) is a perennial twiner growing in water-logged areas of the Indian sub-continent. It is used traditionally as diuretic, laxative and anti-ulcer. The present work deals with the isolation and structure elucidation of Kaempferol from O. esculentum and HPTLC method development for its estimation. Methods: The petroleum ether extract of the entire plant of O. esculentum was subjected to further fractionation followed by pilot TLC experiments and column chromatography. Results: This yielded a pure, yellow, crystalline solid which resolved at Rf 0.70 upon TLC of methanol fraction of the petroleum ether extract using the mobile phase toluene: methanol (3.5:6.5). This compound was subjected to UV, IR and 1H-NMR spectral analysis and its structure elucidation revealed it to be Kaempferol. A novel HPTLC method for the estimation of Kaempferol from O. esculentum was developed, which was found to be 0.879 ± 0.05%w/w. Conclusion: The method developed was found to be easy, simple, precise, efficient, accurate, reproducible, specific and sensitive, and could serve as a suitable tool for routine analysis and phytochemical authentication of O. esculentum.