Phytochemical and analytical evaluation of Cordia dichotoma Linn. leaves

Background: An ethnomedicinally important plant, Cordia dichotoma Linn is practiced in various indigenous systems of medicine and popular among the various ethnic groups in India for the cure of variety of ailments as an astringent, anthelmentic, diuretic, demulcent, anti-diabetic and expectorant. Because of the increasing demand, maintaining quality standards is the need of the day. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to set standard pharmacognostical, physicochemical, phytochemical, fluorescence and HPTLC chromatographic profile of the leaves of Cordia dichotoma Linn (CD). Materials and Methods: CD, which was previously authenticated, was subjected to pharmacognostical, physicochemical, fluorescence and high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis as per standard protocol. Results and Conclusion: The final observations were recorded. The loss on drying at 105ºC was found to be 8.5% w/w, total ash value 13% w/w, acid-insoluble ash 5.07% w/w, water-soluble ash 5.49% w/w, water-soluble extractive 9.2% w/w, alcohol-soluble extractive 5.81% w/w and pH (1% aqueous extract) 6.88. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of steroid, carbohydrate, alkaloid, saponin, cardiac glycosides, flavonoid and phenolic compounds in methanolic extract. The CD fluorescence was seen in UV light and it was of different colour in different solvents. HPTLC analysis revealed 5 peaks at wavelength 366 nm with max R_f values in the range of 0.3 to 0.93. The purity and quality of the leaves of Cordia dichotoma or pharmaceutical preparations prepared from it can be tested by pharmacognostical, physicochemical, fluorescence and HPTLC observations of the present study.