Pharmacognostical and Preliminary Phytochemical Studies of Argyreia Speciosa Leaves

The present work on the leaves of Argyreia speciosa Sweet (Convolvulaceae) has led to the pharmacognostical and phytochemical parameters. Macroscopical and microscopical characters, micrometry, physio-chemical constants, quantitative microscopy parameters, extractive values, carried out. The study also deals with the phytochemical screening of with various extracts. The total phenolic (TPC) and Total flavonoids contents (TFC) in leaves of Argyreia speciosa were studied with the aim of drawing the standards. The leaf is heart shaped upto 12.0-17.1-20.3 X 11.9-15.45-23.7 cm across, back with white shiny hairs on the lower surface, glabrous above, tomentose beneath and long stalked. Microscopically the leaves show cuticle, lignified xylem (3.48-5.10-7.43µ), phloem (1.45-2.85-4.25µ), starch grains, upper and lower epidermal cells were identified. Unicellular pointed tip trichomes are numerous and present on dorsal side abundantly. The palisade cells are rectangular in nature up to 10.32-13.41-16.50X1.93-2.77-3.57µ. The preliminary investigations showed that the moderate presence of terpenes, flavonoids, steroids, phenols and tannins. The TPC found to be, 173.55+0.017 mg (gallic acid equivalent/g) and TFC 134.07+0.123 mg (quercetin equivalent/g). In addition, total tannin content (TTC) determined by back titration with potassium permanganate and, was found as 087.00+0.17mg (tannin equivalent/g). In study TPC, TFC and TTC are significant and prove that, leaves are rich in estimated phytoconstituents and may have pharmacological importance.