PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA THUNB LEAVES AND INVESTIGATION OF ITS ANTI-TUSSIVE EFFECT ON GUINEA PIGS

Background: Many plants are known by people to be used traditionally as medicinal plants among those known some are investigated for their medicinal activities whereas some have not been evaluated. Houttuynia cordata is a plant most commonly found in Southeast Asian countries, it is known tradionally in many countries to be used for various diseases like diarrhea, cough and many others depending on the country find outs. Objective: To study the Pharmacognostical, phytochemical characteristics of Houttuynia cordata and to investigate its anti-tussive activity on guinea pigs. Methods: The plant Houttuynia cordata was collected, dried and powdered. The powdered plant was carried out for extraction using various solvents based on their polarity; the extracts obtained are carried out for phytochemical screening and pharmacological investigation for its medicinal activity. Results: Sub-fraction extraction of the plant was carried by various solvents from the most polar to the least using Soxhlet apparatus; Petroleum ether 10.07%, Benzene 2.27%, Chloroform 1.06%, Acetone 3.34%, Ethanol 6.27%, Aqueous extract 26.21%. Phytochemical screening of H. cordata showed the presence of Alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, Saponins and organic acids; the phytochemical screening results determine the extract that can be used to investigate the pharmacological activity. The pharmacological activity of the plant extracts showed that the Ethanol extract of the plant showed comparatively better results than the aqueous extract when compared to the baseline and standard drug Ambroxol on guinea pigs. Conclusion: The plant Houttuynia cordata has the potential anti-tussive activity when studied on chemically cough-induced guinea pigs; the plant can be studied more in detail for the activity and other activities that have not been explored.