PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF STEM BARK OF GMELINA ARBOREA ROXB.

Abstract

Gmelina arborea Roxb. is a large deciduous tree belonging to the family Verbenaceae, having vast medicinal importance in Ayurveda. The plant is widely distributed throughout India. It is mentioned by the name Shivan and is one among the ten drugs included under Dasamoola group in the Ayurvedic classics. Since the drug is being used extensively in Indian traditional medicinal systems the present work is taken up with an objective to laydown detailed pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical standards. The stem bark of the plant was subjected to microscopically characterization, followed by preliminary physicochemical and phytochemical evaluations. The physical parameters studied included foreign matter, moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive, alcohol soluble extractive, fibre content and sugar content. The preliminary phytochemical analysis included qualitative chemical analysis, the results of the study can serve as a valuable source of Pharmacognostic information adequate to set standards for its identification.