Evaluation of pharmacognostic and phytochemical profile of Neurocalyx calycinus (R. Br. ex Benn.) Rob. leaves - a lesser known ethnomedicinal plant from Western Ghats, India

Authors

  • A L Aneeshkumar Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala, India
  • E A Siril Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala, India
  • S R Suja
  • S Rajasekharan Ethnomedicine and Ethnopharmacology Division, KSCSTE -Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 562, Kerala, India

Keywords:

Neurocalyx calycinus', Cholanaickan tribe, Ethnobotany, HPTLC, GC/MS, Pharmacognosy

Abstract

Neurocalyx calycinus (R. Br. ex Benn.) Rob. is a woody stemmed herb found in evergreen forests of Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. The Cholanaickan tribe of South India has been using the leaves of N. calycinus for the treatment of wounds, inflammations and various skin diseases. However, no scientific reports are available to fix the identity of true plant material to ensure its quality, purity, antioxidant properties and phytochemical constituents. Due to its ethnobotanical importance, the objectives of the present study have been designed to evaluate the identity of N. calycinus leaves through necessary pharmacognosticand phytochemical studies. The determination of salient diagnostic features such as morphological analysis, quantitative microscopy, microscopic powder analysis, physicochemical constants and fluorescence behaviour were carried out. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) fingerprint profiles were developed using ethanol extract for qualitative and quantitative standardization of the plant sample. Stomatal study revealed paracytic types of stomata on abaxial surface only. Phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds, glycosides and saponins were found in the ethanol extract. The thin layer chromatography studies of ethanol extract revealed that toluene: ethyl acetate (1:1) solvent system is suitable for maximum separation. The HPTLC fingerprint profile at 254nm, 366nm, 425nm showed major chemical constituents. GC-MS analysis indicated the presence vitamin E and its precursor compounds. The information obtained from the present study is the first of its kind, which can be used for the proper identification of the species for further pharmacological and therapeutical evaluation, and also assist its standardization with regard to quality and purity.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-01

How to Cite

A L Aneeshkumar, E A Siril, S R Suja, & S Rajasekharan. (2018). Evaluation of pharmacognostic and phytochemical profile of Neurocalyx calycinus (R. Br. ex Benn.) Rob. leaves - a lesser known ethnomedicinal plant from Western Ghats, India. Journal of Traditional and Folk Practices (JTFP), 6(1). Retrieved from https://jtfp.jntbgri.res.in/index.php/jtfp/article/view/105

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Research Articles