PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF THE PLANT LEUCAS ASPERA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2016.v9s2.13718Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: Leucas aspera (Willd.) Linn. is a herbaceous annual distributed throughout India from the Himalayas down to Ceylon. This study was aimed
to investigate the pharmacognostical, phytochemical characteristics, and heavy metal content of the aerial parts of L. aspera.
Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were subjected to macroscopical and microscopical characterization, followed by physicochemical evaluations
using standardized procedures. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of the dried plant powder was done to determine the metal and mineral
content. Preliminary phytochemical screening and metabolite analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of L. aspera (HAELA) were also performed to
analyze the various phytoconstituents.
Results: In this study, the microscopic characteristics of L. aspera were found to be consistent with earlier reports. The total ash value was relatively
high (11.5% w/w). Alcohol soluble and water-soluble extractive values were found to be 6.5% and 9%, respectively. AAS indicated the plant to
contain insignificant quantities of heavy metals and considerable amounts of copper, sodium, potassium, and iron. Phytochemical analysis revealed
the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, lignins, phenols, saponins, sterols, and tannins in HAELA.
Conclusion: The pharmacognosy - anatomical, physicochemical, heavy metal characteristics, and the preliminary phytochemical studies of the aerial
parts of L. aspera have revealed the presence of phytoconstituents such as triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and glycosides; insignificant
quantities of heavy metals and significant content of phenolics and tannins in the plant.
Keywords: Leucas aspera, Ash value, Heavy metal content, Atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Downloads
References
REFERENCES
Kamboj V. Herbal medicine. Curr Sci 2000;78(1):35‑9.
Patwardhan B, Hopper B. Ayurvedic and future drug development. J
Altern Complement Med 1992;19:9‑10.
Muthu C, Ayyanar M, Raja N, Ignacimuthu S. Medicinal plants used
by traditional healers in Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. J
Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2006;2:43‑7.
Mulla SK, Swamy P. Preliminary pharmacognostical and phytochemical
evaluation of Portulaca quadrifida Linn. Int J PharmTech Res
;2:1699‑702.
Gupta SS. Prospects and perspectives of natural plants products in
Medicine. Indian J Pharmacol 1994;26:1‑12.
Thomas S, Patil DA, Patil AG, Chandra N. Pharmacognostic evaluation
and physicochemical analysis of averrhoa carambola L. Fruit. J Herb
Med Toxicol 2008;2:51‑4.
Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants. 2
ed. Dehradun: Lalit
Mohan Basu; 1991.
nd
Shirangi AM. Studies on Leucas aspera. Indian J Pharma 1947;159.
Pradhan BP, Chakraborthy DK, Subba GC. A triterpenoid lactone from
Leucas aspera. Phytochemistry 1991;29:1693‑5.
Mishra TN, Singh RS, Pandey HS, Singh S. Long chain compounds
from Leucas aspera. Phytochemistry 1992;31:1809‑10.
Mishra TN, Singh RS, Prasad C, Singh S. Two aliphatic ketols from
Leucas aspera. Phytochemistry 1993;32:199‑201.
Mishra TN, Singh RS, Pandey HS, Singh S. A novel phenolic compound
from Leucas aspera. Indian J Chem 1995;34:1108‑10.
Mangathayaru K, Thirumurugan D, Patel PS, Pratap DV, David DJ,
Karthikeyan J. Isolation and identification of nicotine from Leucas
aspera (Willd) link. Indian J Pharm Sci 2006b;68:88‑90.
Mangathayaru K, Ghosh A, Ranjan R, Kaushik VV. Volatile constituents
++
+
++
+
+
+
+
+++
+
Asian J Pharm Clin Res, Vol 9, Suppl. 2, 2016, 263-268
Kripa et al.
of Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link. J Essent Oil Res 2006a;18:104‑5.
Johanson DA. Plant Microtechniques. New York: McGraw Hill Book
Co.; 1940. p. 523.
Sandeep G, Dheeraj A, Deenanath J, Kumar SN, Bharti AS.
Pharmacognostic Standardization, physico and phytochemical
evaluation of aerial parts of Mentha arvensis linn. International J
Pharma Sci Drug Res 2010;2:261‑4.
Trease GE, Evans WC. Textbook of Pharmacology. 12
ed. London:
Tindale; 1983.
th
Morris DL. Quantitative determination of carbohydrate with
Dreywood’s anthrone reagent. Science 1948;107:254‑5.
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RI. Protein measurement
with Folin Phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 1951;193(1):265‑75.
Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH. A simple method for the isolation
and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem
;226(1):497‑09.
McDonald S, Prenzler PD, Autolovich M, Robards K. Phenolic content
and antioxidant activity of olive extracts. Food Chem 2001;73(1):73‑84.
Roe JH, Kuether CA. The determination of ascorbic acid in whole
blood and urine through the 2, 4‑dinitrophenylhydrazine derivative of
dehydroascorbic acid. J Biol Chem 1943;147:399‑407.
Baker H, Frank O, De Angelis B, Feingold S. Plasma tocopherol in man
at various times after ingesting free or acetylated tocopherol. Nutr Rep
Int 1980;21:531‑6.
Phillipson JD. Phytochemical evaluation of some Kenyan medicinal
plants. Phytochemistry 2001;56:237‑43.
WHO (World Health Organization). Quality Control Methods for
Medicinal Plant Materials. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health
Organization; 1998
Midiwo JO, Yenesew A, Juma BF, Omosa KL, Omosa IL, Mutisya D.
NAPRECA Symposium Book of Proceedings. Antananarivo:
Madagascar; 2006. p. 9‑19.
th
Rai V, Agarwaal M, Agnihotri AK, Khatoon S, Rawat AK, Mehrotra S.
Pharmacognostical evaluation of Leucas aspera Link. Nat Prod Sci
;11:109‑14.
Naithani V, Pathak N, Chaudhary M. Evaluation of heavy metals
in two major ingredients of ampucare. Int J Pharm Sci Drug Res
;2:137‑41.
Ghosh A, Chakrabarti P, Roy P, Bhadury S, Nag T, Sarkar S.
Bioremediation of heavy metals from neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf
extract by chelation with dithizone (a prospective and effective method
for pharmaceutical industry). Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2009;2:87‑92.
Nkansah MA, Amoako CO. Heavy metal content of some common
spices available in markets in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Am J
Sci Ind Res 2010;1:158‑63.
Devi P, Meera R, Muthumani P, Kameswari B, Badmanaban R. Phyto‑
Physico chemical evaluation and Antioxidant activities of leaves of
Naphellium lappaceum. J Pharm Sci Res 2009;1:117‑22.
Mallikharjuna PB, Rajanna LN, Seetharam YN, Sharanabasappa GK.
Phytochemical studies of Strychnos potatorum L.f. ‑ A medicinal plant.
E‑J Chem 2007;4(4):510‑8.
Zhang LL, Lin YM. HPLC, NMR and MALDI‑TOF MS analysis of
condensed tannins from Lithocarpus glaber leaves with potent free
radical scavenging activity. Molecules 2008;13:2986‑97.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
The publication is licensed under CC By and is open access. Copyright is with author and allowed to retain publishing rights without restrictions.
