Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Leaf and Stem Wood Extracts of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.

Introduction: Artocarpus hirsutus Lam., a plant known for its fruits, used as a traditional medicine to treat skin diseases including hydrocele, pimple, heal sores, cracks in the skin. Pharmacological studies on the bark, root, leaf and fruit extracts of this species support their significance as antioxidants, as well as their efficacy on diuretic, antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiulcer activity. Methods: The present study focused on microscopic study, phytochemical analysis, HPLC and HPTLC finger print evaluation of leaf and stem wood extracts. Results: Microscopic analysis demonstrates its characteristic parameters namely hairy trichomes, pearl glands, vascular bundles, epidermis and is expected to assist easy identification of the genus. Conclusion: The solvent system, chloroform:methanol (8:2) was found to be the best as TLC eluent to visualize all major components of this species. HPLC and HPTLC finger prints not only confirm the presence of two major components, oxyresveratrol and artocarpin in stem wood extract, but also prove their absence in the leaf extract.