ISSN 0975 8542

Journal of Global Pharma Technology

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RESEARCH PAPER

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY AND ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALITY PARAMETERS OF STEMS OF OXYSTELMA ESCULENTUM

Pandya D.J.a*, Shah B.K.b, Shah M.B.b, Kapadia N.S.b
a b

School of Pharmacy, RK University, Rajkot, Gujarat,India. Department of Pharmacognosy, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad,India.

*For Correspondence: E-mail: pandyadevang82@yahoo.com

Abstract :Background: Oxystelma esculentum is a perennial twiner growing near water logged areas of the Indian sub-continent. It is traditionally used as a diuretic, galactagogue, anthelmintic and antiperiodic. It is also used ethnomedicinally in throat infections, skin diseases and jaundice. Aim: The present investigation deals with detailed pharmacognostic study of the stems of the plant and establishment of its quality parameters. Materials and Methods: This involved macroscopic and microsopcic studies followed by phytochemical screening, using the established chemical tests. Results: The young and old stems of O. esculentum showed significant morphological and microscopical differences. Microscopy of the powdered stems revealed the presence of parenchymatous tissue filled with numerous rosette crystals and laticiferous vessels. Various quantitative microscopic and physico-chemical parameters were established. Both young and old stems were found to contain cardenolides, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, steroids and triterpenoids. Conclusion: Such detailed study can be helpful in standardizing the formulations of O. esculentum as well as serve as a guide for isolating novel phytoconstituents from it.
Keywords: Oxystelma esculentum, Jaldudhi, Dudhlata, Asclepiadaceae.

INTRODUCTION Oxystelma esculentum R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) syn. Oxystelma secamone, Periploca esculenta, Periploca secamone, Sarcostemma secamone, Sarcostemma esculentum and Asclepias rosea, is found near water logged areas of the plains and lower hills of Indian sub-continent. It has been reported to possess antiperiodic, anthelmintic, diuretic and galactagogue activity. It is used ethnomedicinally in throat infections, skin diseases and also in the treatment of jaundice [1-3]. The present study deals with the qualitative and quantitative pharmacognostic study of the stems of the plant and establishment of its quality parameters, including phytochemical screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS Stems of O. esculentum in flowering stage were collected from Nadiad, Central Gujarat in November 2006. Voucher specimen (No. LM/COG/PG/17) was deposited in the Department of Pharmacognosy, L. M. College of Pharmacy. Authentication of herbarium was done by Dr. H. A. Solanki, Department of Botany, Gujarat University. Fresh aerial parts were used for comparative pharmacognostical studies and quantitative microscopy. The aerial parts were dried under shade and powdered to 60# separately and stored in airtight containers and used for physicochemical evaluation and phytochemical studies.Macroscopical and microscopical studies were performed for the stems. Photomicrography of the transverse sections and the powdered drug was

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performed using light microscope (Labomed) and WinDVR camera and software. Quantitative microscopic study micrometer scale (Table1).[4]Physicochemical evaluation included determination of moisture content, ash values (total ash, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash) and extractive values (water and alcohol soluble extractives) (Table 2).[5]Phytochemical screening was performed to detect the presence of various phytoconstituents (Table 3).[6-14] RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

was performed using camera lucida and stage Macroscopy Fresh stem is cylindrical, slender, 4-6 mm in diameter, glabrous and light green in color, with a distance of 5-11 cm between the nodes. Flower is solitary, 2-3 cm in diameter, drooping, having saucer-shaped corolla with purple veins. Fruit is follicle, 4-6 cm long, solitary, ovate-lanceolate and tapering towards the end (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Aerial parts of O. esculentum

Microscopy: Transverse Section The microscopy of young stem shows a bilayered epidermis (Ep) covered by a thick cuticle (Cu), followed by 3-4 layers of hypodermis consisting of radially elongated chlorenchymatous palisade-like cells (Chl). Non-lignified pericyclic fibres (Pf) in groups of 15-20 are present in the cortex below the chlorenchymatous cells and above the continuous, collateral vascular bundles. Lignified xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma are present in the endarch xylem region (X). Perimedullary phloem (PmP) is found scattered beneath the xylem and several isolated lignified pitted parenchymatous cells (Pp) are found surrounding the xylem vessels. Rosette
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crystals of calcium oxalate (Cr) are found above the xylem and in the perimedullary phloem. A large parenchymatous pith (P) lies in the centre.The microscopy of old stem has a marked difference compared to young stem. It shows the presence of 5-8 layers of tangentially elongated brownish cork cells (Ck), followed by 1-2 layers of phelloderm. Lenticels (L) are often visible in the cork. The cortex is narrower compared to young stem and consists of 34 layers of radially elongated chlorenchymatous palisade-like cells (Chl). Non-lignified pericyclic fibres are either absent or disintegrated. The stele is larger compared to young stem and consists of continuous, collateral vascular bundles having endarch xylem (X), which has vessels larger in diameter compared to young stem. The xylem vessels are mainly surrounded by thick-walled lignified xylem fibres. Xylem parenchyma are fewer compared to young stem. Perimedullary phloem and pitted parenchymatous cells are absent. Rosette crystals of calcium oxalate (Cr) are found only above the xylem and are fewer compared to young stem. Pith (P) is narrow compared to young stem. Powder Characteristics It is slightly fibrous, green coloured powder with no distinct odour or taste. The most important diagnostic feature of the powder is the presence of parenchymatous
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tissue filled with large number of rosette crystals of calcium oxalate (Cr). Xylem vessels with pits or annular thickening

(Xy) and tissue consisting of laticiferous vessels (Lv) are also found (Fig. 5).
Cu Ep Ps

Pf

P Vb Cr

Fig. 2: : Diagrammatic T. S. of stem

Fig. 3: Detailed T. S. of stem (x100) A Young stem; B - Old stem Table 1: Quantitative microscopy Parameters Rosette crystal diameter Pericyclic fibre length Xylem vessels diameter Number of observations =10 Table 2: Physico-chemical evaluation Parameters
Loss on drying Ash values Total ash Acid insoluble ash Water soluble ash Extractive values Water soluble extractive Alcohol soluble extractive

Measured Value () 13.7 - 20.10 -28.67 77.87 - 98.11 - 114.23 117.3 - 197.77 - 256.89

% w/w SD 77.83 0.07 11.340.13 0.660.17 5.890.16 4.72 0.06 1.87 0.05

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Pandya et al., Journal of Global Pharma Technology. 2011; 3(12): 11-16

Fig. 4: Enlarged portions of detailed T. S. of stem (x450)

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Pandya et al., Journal of Global Pharma Technology. 2011; 3(12): 11-16

Fig. 5: Powder study (x450) Table 3. Phytochemical screening Result Phytoconstituents Alkaloids Tests Dragendorffs test Wagners test Mayers test Hagers test Shinoda test Fluorescence test FeCl3 test Folin ciocalteu test Libermann Burchardt test Salkowski reaction Antimony trichloride Ammonia test Hydroxylamine hydrochloride test Keddes test Baljet test -ve -ve -ve -ve +ve +ve +ve +ve +ve +ve -ve +ve +ve +ve +ve

Flavonoids Phenolics Steroids and triterpenoids

Carotenoids Coumarins Cardenolides

CONCLUSION A detailed study of Oxystelma esculentum has been performed. The young and old stems of O. esculentum showed significant morphological and microscopical differences. Powder study showed the presence of parenchymatous tissue filled with abundant rosette crystals, xylem vessels with pits or annular thickening and laticiferous vessels. Various physicochemical parameters were established. Values of water soluble extractives were REFERENCES
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greater than those of alcohol soluble extractives. Phytochemical studies of both young and old stems revealed the presence of common phytoconstituents like cardenolides, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, steroids and triterpenoids. The present study can be very useful in standardizing the formulations of O. esculentum, aid in the differentiation of young stems and old stems as well as serve as a guide for isolating novel phytoconstituents.

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Pandya et al., Journal of Global Pharma Technology. 2011; 3(12): 11-16 6. Feigl F. Spot Tests in Organic Analysis, 4th Ed. London: Elsevier; 1956. p. 15-57. 7. Fishcher R. Praktikum der Pharmakognosic, 3rd Ed. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1952. p. 25-79. 8. Geissman A. Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, Vol. III. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1955. p. 10110. 9. Harborne J. B. Phytochemical Methods, 2nd Ed. London: Chapman & Hall Ltd.; 1973. p. 15-60. 10. List P. H., Horhammer L. Hager Hand Buch Der Pharmazeutischem Praxis, Band 1. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1967. p. 30-45.

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