Investigation on Pharmacognostic Parameters of Sirunagapoo (Mesua ferrea L): A Traditional Indian Herbal Drug

Introduction: Flower buds of Sirunagapoo (Mesua ferrea) are used in Siddha system of medicine as carminative, astringent and anti-vatha. It is traditionally used to treat various diseases like cough, venerial, white discharge, diarrhea, over-bleeding and peripheral neuritis. It is one of the major ingredients in Amukkara choornam, Inji choornam and Elathi choornam which are used for indigestion, loss of appetite and gastritis. Methods: Pharmacognostic characters of M. ferrea flower bud were studied through powder microscopy. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts were investigated for phytochemical screening, total phenolic content, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and the ethanolic extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis. Results: Powder microscopy of flower buds of M. ferrea revealed the presence of brachysclereids, macrosclereids, starch grain, crystals and parenchyma cells. The powdered material exhibited 6.07% of loss on drying, 2.93% of total ash, 11.34% of water-soluble extractive and pH value 5.35. Data showed the presence of sterols only in ethanol extract and phenols, flavanoids, saponins and coumarins in both ethanol and aqueous extracts. Ethanolic extract was found to contain higher concentration of total phenols (1030 mg GAE/L) when compared to aqueous extract. Totally forty compounds were detected in GC-MS analysis and the major compound is eugenol (61%) and cinnamaldehyde (15%). In vitro studies revealed antioxidant in terms of DPPH free radical scavenging property (IC-₅₀ = 229.7 mg/ml) remarkable anti-inflammatory activity using RBC membrane stabilization assay (70.27%) were noted. Conclusion: This study provides the pharmacognostic standards, phytochemical profile, major volatile compounds and in vitro properties of Mesua ferrea flower bud.