Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Nutritional Evaluation of Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC

Objective: The primary aim of the study was to establish the pharmacognostic standards along with nutritional values on the important medicinal herb Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC., commonly known as Parpata in South India. Material and Methods: Pharmacognostical, physicochemical, nutritional evaluation along with the TLC profiling and preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out. Results: Histological study of different parts of the plant revealed the presence of different cellular structures viz. stem showed the presence of multi cellular to unicellular trichomes, collateral vascular bundles, starch grains etc. Mesophyll of the leaves was embedded with starch grains with clustered calcium oxalate and prism shaped crystals. Anomocytic stomata were present on both the epidermis of the leaf. Powder microscopy exhibited multi cellular trichomes, clustered calcium oxalate, fibres etc. Physicochemical and histochemical studies revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites and different minerals within the acceptable limits. Thin layer chromatographic profiling showed different spots suggesting the presence of specific phytoconstituents in different extracts. The plant also revealed good nutritional value with calorific value of about 245 kcal/100g; Vitamin C 112 mg/100 g and higher amount of calcium etc. Conclusion: The results are beneficial to establish the quality control parameters of the plant species and may be served as future reference for the identification and authentication of the genuine crude drug and also provide sufficient data to recognize the use of the plant as dietary suppliment.