Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON A TROPICAL PLANT, SYZYGIUM CUMINI LINN FROM JODHPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN, NORTH WEST INDIA

Anil Kumar Agarwal*, Pradeep Goyal, Lakshminarasimhaiah, Praveen Goyal, G.K.Singh

ABSTRACT

The developing countries mostly rely on traditional medicines. These traditional medicines involve the use of different plant extracts or the bioactive constituents. This study such as ethnomedicine keenly represents one of the best avenues in searching new economic plants for medicine. In keeping this view in mind, the present investigation is carried out on Syzygium cumini seeds of Jodhpur District, Rajasthan, North-West India. In present investigation, the detailed pharmacognostic study of Syzygium cumini seed is carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies. The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening and physicochemical evaluation. Morphological and anatomical studies of the seed will enable to identify the crude drug. Preliminary phytochemical screening will be useful in finding out the genuity of the drug. Ash value, extractive value can be used as reliable aid for detecting adulteration. These simple but reliable standards will be useful to a lay person in using the drug as a home remedy. Also the manufacturers can utilize them for identification and selection of the raw material for drug production. These standards are of upmost importance not only in finding out genuity, but also in detection of adulterants in marketed drug and as well in formulation. The results suggest that the phytochemical properties of the seed for curing various ailments.

Keywords: Syzygium cumini, Pharmacognostical, Microscopy, Phytochemical, Traditional medicines.