Pharmacognostic investigation and determination of some of physical constants of the stem and powdered whole plant Viscum articulatum Burm.f. Materials and Methods: The stem and dried coarsely powdered whole plant Viscum articulatum Burm.f. was used for macroscopic and microscopic diagnostic evaluation using Motic microscope. Determination of quantitative standards and preliminary phytochemical screening were done as per the standard guideline of World health organization. Results: Observation of organoleptic characters confirmed that Viscum articulatum Burm. f. was a leafless, much branched, hemiparasitic shrub. The transverse section of stem shown to consist of epidermis covered with cuticle as well the presence of the parenchymatous cells, lignified fibres, calcium oxalate crystals and vascular bundles. The microscopical examination of powdered whole plant has also shown the presence of lignified fibres, vascular bundle, starch grains, epidermis and parenchyma. The results of analytical parameters of powdered whole plant material were total ash-11.45% w/w, water soluble ash-2.9 %w/w, acid insoluble ash-0.5 %w/w, loss on drying- 6.4 % w/w and water soluble and alcohol soluble extractive values were found to be 28.72 % w/w and 13.76 % w/w respectively. The qualitative chemical tests of powdered whole plant revealed the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins and glycosides. Conclusion: The present study might be helpful for identification and standardization parameters of specific species of Viscum articulatum Burm.f.
Loading....