European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF RHIZOMES OF Drynaria quercifolia (Linn) J. Smith

Janarthanan L.*, Karthikeyan V., Balakrishnan B. R., Jaykar B., Senthilkumar K. L., Anandharaj G.

ABSTRACT

Drynaria quercifolia (Linn.) J. Smith (Family: Polypodiaceae) commonly known as Oak leaf fern. Rhizome of this plant traditionally used in the treatment of hectic fever, dyspepsia and cough, antihelminthic, anti arthritic etc. Micromorphology and physicochemical analysis of the rhizomes of D.quercifolia to be performed as per WHO and Pharmacopoeial methods. Rhizomes are 2cm or thicker, fleshy, creeping nature and densely clothed with reddish brown soft scales. Microscopic evaluation of rhizome consists of a thin wavy epidermal layer. Epidermis made by parenchymatous tissues which are polyhedral, thin walled and compact. Single layer of thick walled endodermis and layers of pericycle were the cells are rectangular and thin walled. Xylem consists of wide, angular, thick walled metaxylem elements and 4 (or) 5 exarches protoxylem elements. The metaxylem elements are upto 30μm in diameter. Phloem elements are in one or two layers and thick walled. Powder microscopy showed the presence of scales, covering trichome, parenchyma, xylem elements and lignified sclerenchyma bundle. Preliminary phytochemical screening of appropriate solvent extracts showed the presence of sterols, tannins, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponin, carbohydrates and absence of alkaloids, glycosides and volatile and fixed oil. Microscopic analysis and other parameters were informative and provide valuable information in the identification, standardization of D.quercifolia rhizome.

Keywords: Drynaria quercifolia, Polypodiaceae, Rhizome, Microscopical evaluation.