Microscopic and Physicochemical Evaluation of Leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn

Objective: To study the pharmacognostic characters of a medicinally important crude drug, Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Methods: Various pharmacognostic parameters involved in organoleptic, microscopic, physicochemical, phytochemical and fluorescence evaluation were carried out. Results: The macroscopy study showed that the leaves was observed as sessile, obovate-oblong apex, tapered base, dentate margin, simple, serrate lamina, surface glabrous. The leaf microscopy showed the presence of diacytic stomata, unicellular covering trichomes, arc shaped vascular bundle which contain lignified xylem and non lignified phloem, cortical parenchyma and a thin strip of collenchyma, micro rosette calcium oxalate crystals. The powder characteristics of leaf showed the presence of lignified fibers, medullary rays, bordered pitted xylem vessels, calcium oxalate crystals, stomata, epidermal cells and covering trichomes. Physicochemical parameters like total ash value was 9.21%, water soluble ash 1.56%, acid insoluble ash 1.35%, swelling index 4 mL, loss on drying 1.09% and foreign matter was 0.20%w/w respectively where as stomatal indexes of upper and lower surfaces were 33.2 and 23, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, volatile oil, fats and oils, tannins and phenolic compounds. Conclusion: The present study provides the scientific data for the proper authentification and establishment of quality control standards for the therapeutic use of Sphaeranthus indicus.