PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF ROOT OF BUTEA MONOSPERMA LAM. (FABACEAE)

All information about the herbal drug, including all its organoleptic characters, phytoconstituents, pharmacological actions, and its standardization in respect to various parameters, is required before developing an herbal drug formulation. Butea monosperma (Lam.) is commonly known as the Flame of the forest, belongs to the family Fabaceae. Commonly Butea monosperma is used as tonic, astringent, aphrodisiac, and diuretics. We are doing this work because it was thought worthwhile to explore this most functional plant based on this standardization parameter. The objective of the work is to study pharmacognostic and physicochemical characteristics of the root of Butea monosperma Fresh and dried root; root powder was studied for its morphology, microscopy, physicochemical, phytochemical characteristics, and other WHO-recommended methods for standardization. The root of Butea monosperma was observed to be brown in color and irregular in shape with a rough surface. The root has a characteristic odour and faint taste. Microscopy revealed the presence of cork cells; Medullary rays distinct parenchymatous cells narrow in the xylem region and wider in the phloem region. Xylem parenchymal contains calcium oxalate crystal. Pith contain Parenchymatous cells with intracellular space, Xylem Lignified, Xylem vessels thickened walls, lignified Phloem. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins & phenolic compounds, which is also confirmed by TLC results, so the total flavonoid and phenolic contents were also calculated in Butea monosperma to extract. It can be concluded that the pharmacognostic profile of Butea monosperma root is useful in standardization for quality, purity, and sample identification.