Phyto-Pharmacognostical Studies and HPTLC Fingerprinting Profile of Uvaria narum (Dunal) Wall. Ex Wight

Objective: To study the pharmacognostic characters and phytochemical investigation of medicinally important crude drug, Uvaria narum (Dunal) Wall. Ex Wight (Annonaceae) Methods: Organoleptic characters, microscopic evaluation, leaf constants, quantitative physico-chemical evaluations (Ash value, extractive value, moisture content), preliminary phytochemical screening, quantitative estimation of total phenolic and flavonoid content in alcoholic and aqueous extract of Uvaria narum and HPTLC fingerprinting profile were studies on leaves of Uvaria narum by employing standard methods of analysis. Results: Leaf is dorsiventral, having distinct upper and lower surface. Stomata are of paracytic type and present only on lower epidermis. Upper epidermal cells are polygonal with cuticle and contain simple starch grains. A single layer of palisade cells is present below upper epidermis. Leaf do not bears any trichomes. Mid rib region shows collenchymatous cells on both surfaces. Xylem bundles are arranged in an arc. The space between collenchymas and vascular bundle is occupied by parenchymatous cells, some of which are filled with calcium oxalate crystals of prism as well as of rosette type (30-40 m in diameter). HPTLC fingerprint study of alcoholic and aqueous extracts confirmed the presence of quercitin as biomarker polyphenolic compound. Conclusion: These findings will be useful in establishing pharmacognostic and phytochemical standards for correct identification, as well as assessment of purity, quality of this plant, which definitely gaining the relevance in plant drug research and establishment of plant monograph.