Pharmacognostical Investigation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Leaves of Myxopyrum Smilacifolium B.

Objective: The current study deals with detailed pharmacognostical study and preliminary phytochemical screening of leaf of Myxopyrum smilacifolium Blume. Myxopyrum smilacifolium Blume is a twining shrub belongs to the family Oleaceae. It is used traditionally in the treatment of cough, rheumatism, cephalalgia, notalagia and otopathy. Scrutinization of literature revealed that there is a lack of pharmacognostical and Phytochemical investigations of Myxopyrum smilacifolium Blume. Methods: The macroscopical and microscopical features were evaluated. The leaves of Myxopyrum smilacifolium Blume was subjected for successive solvent extraction and further preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out and also the behaviour of powder with different reagents were evaluated by fluorescence analysis. Results: The detailed study of pharmacognostical evaluation showed the presence of thick walled epidermal cells covered with thick cuticle, xylem and phloem elements, Glandular trichome and slightly concave collateral vascular bundles. Preliminary Phytochemical examination revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents viz., alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, carbohydrates and fixed oils. The fluorescence analysis manifested the behavioral variation of the powdered drug. Conclusion: The findings of the present study will be a referential information for identification and also useful for standardization of the plant material.