Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON THE TUBER OF BRACHYSTELMA EDULIS COLL. AND HELMSL. - AN ENDEMIC TO PENINSULAR, INDIA.

More Seema Rajaram * and Jadhav Rathod, Varsha Dilip

ABSTRACT

Brachystelma edulis Coll. and Helmsl. belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae. This species is not specifically mentioned for medicinal use in the literature, but many of the tuberous Brachystelma are known to be used medicinally for headache, stomachache and cold in children in Satara districts. The present paper deals with pharmacognostical, fluorescence and phytochemical analysis of the tubers of B. edulis. Moisture content showed 97.01 % fresh weight in the tuber. Transverse section showed presence of starch grains in the tuber of B. edulis. When the powder exposed to UV light alcoholic NaOH extract, acetone extract, aqueous extract and methanolic extract showed pale green fluorescence. Preliminary phytochemical studies show the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides in methanolic extract. Presence of carbohydrates, proteins, flavonoides, alkaloids, ash indicate that the plant have medicinal and food properties, due to this its exploitation necessary.

Keywords: Pharmacognosy, Preliminary phytochemical screening, Fluorescence analysis, Powder behaviour, Tuber, Brachystelma edulis.