Microscopy

Medicinal herbs as potential source of therapeutics have marked a crucial role in health system globally for both humans and animals. These are not only beneficial in the diseased condition but also used as potential material for maintaining proper health. The present study highlights the pharmacognostic studies on roots like powder microscopy and anthelmintic activity of different extracts on Indian adult earthworms. Different concentrations (50-150 mg/ml) of plant extract were tested in this study. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) was used as reference standard drug whereas CMC as control. Determination of paralysis time and death time of the worms were recorded. Extract exhibited significant vermicide activity in dose dependent manner. The result shows that methanolic extract possesses anthelmintic activity and found to be effective as an anthelmintic.

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.

Herbal medicines are formulations of therapeutic herbs to prevent and treat disease and ailments or to promote health and healing. There are various aspects Indian manufactures have to focus on to establish their products in the global markets. Right from the analysis of raw materials and in-process testing to analysis of finished products, system have to be established to stringently monitor every step in the manufacture. Maintaining quality of herbal products includes a strict set of processes within the specified limits laid down by the World Health Organization (W.H.O) to maintain consistency. D-Diabetes S.M.A.R.T powder is an authentic ayurvedic preparation consisting of nineteen herbal medicines namely Acacia arabica, Asphaltum, Bombax ceiba, Butea monosperma, Emblica officinalis, Eugenia jambolana,Ficus bengalensis, Gymnema sylvestre,Holarrhena antidysentrica, Momordica charantia,Pistacia integerrima, Plumbago zeylanica, Pongamia glabra, Pterocarpus marsupium, Santalum album, Swertia chirata, Terminalia chebula, Tribulus terrestris and Woodfordia fruticosa. The herbal medicines Eugenia jambolana,Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia and Tribulus terrestrisare present in maximum quantity in the formulation and can be chosen as biological standard for studies. World Health Organization has set specific guidelines for assessment of safety, efficacy and quality herbal medicines. The various steps involve are botanical parameter, physicochemical parameters, biological parameters, toxicological parameters and pharmacological parameters.

Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass., Syn. G. oleifera D.C., Polymnia abyssinica L.f., Suppl., Verbesina sativa Roxb., Jaegeria abyssinica Spr., commonly known as Ramtil in Hindi and Niger in English belongs to family Asteraceae (Compositae)  is native of Abyssinica (South Africa). The plant is used in the treatment of various diseases such as arthritis, microbial infections and seed oil serve as contraceptives. The leaves of Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. (Asteraceae) are popular in Indian traditional medicine and as such provides good to develop herbal drug preparation to be used as phytomedicine. International criteria for validation and standardization of an herbal material as phytomedicine include microscopy and histological examination of raw material to guarantee its authenticity. The fresh leaves were taken to study the histology of the species. The thin section was made and treated with saffranine, chloral hydrate and iodine solution, mounted with glycerine and observed under microscope. Similarly, the dried leaves was made in to powder and was taken in glass slide, stained and mounted with glycerine, observed under microscope to reveal the powder character. The anatomical study revealed the presence of multicellular trichomes, stomata, chloroplast, conjoint and collateral vascular bundle, while powder microscopy revealed the presence of xylem vessels, parenchyma, calcium oxalate crystals etc. Thus, the present paper aims at setting the anatomical standards to establish quality control parameter for the raw material. The data obtained in present study will serve as valuable tool for identification, authentication and detection of adulterants, standardization and quality control of the plant Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.