PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON TRAGIA PLUKENETTI R. SMITH

The global market for herbal products is exploding. The major hindrance in the amalgamation of herbal medicines into modern medical practices is the lack of scientific and clinical data and a better understanding of efficacy and safety of the herbal products. The evaluation or standardization of a crude drug involves Pharmacognostic methods such as organological, physicochemical, phytochemical and pharmacological analysis. The experimental material selected for the present study is Tragia plukenetii R. Smith belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. This herb is distributed in hill slopes of southern peninsular India. The root is diaphoretic and alternative and is given for fevers to cause perspiration. The present paper deals with anatomical characters of leaf, stem, and roots. The dried powders of stem, leaves and roots and their extracts in various solvents were examined with ordinary light and U.V. light (365nm). Quantitative determination such as moisture content, total ash, water-soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water extractive values, and sulfated ash have also been made. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extracts was done and the results showed that tannins, steroids, triterpenoids and phenols were predominantly present in all the extracts.