Abstract

MORPHOANATOMICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL STANDARDIZATION OF DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L.) J. SMITH

Pradeep Kamboj*, Ajudhia Nath Kalia

ABSTRACT

Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith (Polypodiaceae), a parasitic fern, is well-known crude drug used by tribal communities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India for diverse ailments like jaundice, typhoid fever, rheumatic pain, dyspepsia, etc. The present study was conducted to establish the detailed pharmacognostical parameters for the histological and physico-chemical standardization of D. quercifolia. The physico-chemical parameters were performed as per standard procedures of WHO guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal plant materials. Morphoanatomy, venation pattern, trichomes distribution, stomatal morphology, paradermal sections and powder microscopical examination of plant’s leaf were studied by employing bright field light for the normal observations and polarized light for the study of crystals, starch grains, and lignified cells. Microscopical descriptions of tissues were supplemented with photographs of different magnifications employing Motic DMBA 300 microscopic unit. Additionally, reliable quantitative HPTLC and HPLC methods were successfully developed and validated as per ICH guidelines for the determination of marker phytochemical (naringin; a flavanone glycoside) in the plant material and formulations. The physico-chemical, anatomical parameters, and HPTLC & HPLC standardization may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of D. quercifolia and further assist in standardization of plant viz., quality, purity, and sample identification.

Keywords: Drynaria quercifolia, HPLC, HPTLC, Microscopy, Physico-chemical standards.