Pharmacognostical & Preliminary phytochemical screening of Flacourtia inermis Roxb

Objective: To study detailed pharmacognostic profile and preliminary phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Flacourtia inermis (Roxb) belongs to the family Flacourtiaceae. This is an autotrophic plant with an oval shape. The leaves of F. inermis (Roxb) used traditionally in Ayurveda in the treatment of various diseases and possessed antioxidant, anti diabetic, antimicrobial activities. The fruits, bark, leaves and roots for some health conditions especially for arthritis, cough, some bacterial infection.Methods: Leaf of Flacourtia inermis (Roxb) was studied by Macroscopical, Microscopical, Quantitative microscopy, Physicochemical, Phytochemical analysis of leaf powder of the plant and other methods for standardization recommended by WHO. Results: Macroscopically the leaves are simple, alternate, and petiolate with a unicostate reticulate venation. When young, leaves are red and turn green in colour when they mature. The leaves are ovate elliptical in shape, size 5-20 cm long, 3-8 cm width with characteristic odour & bitter taste. The surface is glabrous with serrate margin and acuminate apex. Microscopically, the leaf showed the presence of smooth and uniform thickness lamina. The epidermal layer has thin rectangular walled cells. Beneath the palisade cells are loosely arranged spongy parenchyma cells which are spherical in shape. Calcium oxalate crystals are common in midrib of leaf as druses. The vascular strands are flat. In between xylem lines occur in narrow thin layers of parenchyma cells. There is a thick layer of sclerenchymatous cells forming sclerotic layer. The investigations also included leaf surface data; quantitative leaf microscopy. Physiochemical parameters such as loss on drying, extractive values and ash values were also determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence tannins, phenols, flavonoids and triterpenoids, sterols, carbohydrates, protein, alkaloids, cyanogenetic glycosides, tannins, saponins, mucilage, and volatile oils. Conclusions: The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material in future investigations and applications.