Abstract

PHYTOPHARMACOGNOSTICAL INVESTIGATION OF GMELINA ARBOREA (ROXB.) FRUIT RIND

Saveena Chauhan*, Vd. Bhupesh R. Patel, Preeti Pandya and Vinay J. Shukla

ABSTRACT

Gmelina arborea (Roxb.) (Verbenaceae) commonly known as „Gambhari‟ & „Kashmari‟ is a reputed drug. Literally „Gambhari‟ means „Beautiful tree‟, „Kashmari‟ represents availability of the plant in Kashmir, „Shriparni‟ for „Beautiful leaves‟. The drug is reputed for its kaphavatashamaka property and also having properties like Vednasthapana, Jawaranashaka, Raktapittahara, Balya, Medhya activity but fruit pulp is reported for virechana properties along with other drugs. The plant is well explained in all scriptures of Ayurveda and traditionally used in India for several medicinal purposes like Anthelmintic, Diuretic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic etc. In this study the fresh and dried fruit pulp of the plant is taken for pharmacognostical study, phytochemical investigation and estimation of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, tannins and sugar etc. The study reveals the presence of stone cells, pitted parenchyma, vascular strands etc. microscopically and presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, phenolic compounds and carbohydrates pharmaceutically. The present research report details phyto- pharmacognostical properties with quantification of secondary metabolites present in Gmelina arborea (Roxb.) fruit rind.

Keywords: Gmelina arborea, Verbenaceae, Gambhari, Pharmacognosy, fruit.