Quality control studies of Ochrocarpus longifolius flower buds

Abstract

The flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius Benth. & Hook f. is the crude drug which has been used for the pharmacognostical standardization as per WHO guidelines-1998 and IHP-2002. The plant is a tree. Authentication and identification has been done taxonomically. The dried flower buds are light brown and round in shape. Oblate to suboblate pollen grains, lignified, spiral and elongated xylem vessels has been found. Stone cells, thick bordered tracheids and anther fractions have been observed in powder drug microscopy. Foreign matter (0.29%), loss on drying (13.16%), total ash (6.30%), acid insoluble ash (0.43%), water soluble ash (1.97%), alcohol soluble extractive (16.03%), water soluble extractive(12.57%), volatile oil (0.10%), foaming index 200 and swelling index 0.36 ml of the crude drug have been obtained. A fingerprint of fluorescence has been observed in fluorescence analysis. Preliminary phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of the crude drug has revealed the presence of glycosides, reducing sugars, phenolics, tannins, coumarins, sterols, flavanoids, saponins and volatile oil. Total phenolics (138.30 ± 4.58), total tannins (133.0 ± 1.52), total flavonoids (41 ± 1.28) and total flavonol (0.56 ± 0.04) content in mg/gm of plant extract have been estimated. Different amounts of chlorinated and phosphated pesticide were obtained in the crude drug. By establishing the quality parameters for Ochrocarpus longifolius, it can be a better used plant for further research and for trade and commerce. © 2010 Phcog.net.