Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Standardization of Capparis Incanescens DC. Leaves

Abstract

Pharmacognostic evaluation plays a vital role in the authentication, quality evaluation and standardization of medicinal plants. Capparis incanescens DC. is a medicinal plant of the family Capparaceae but there is limited pharmacognostic information of its leaves. The present work has been undertaken to develop the pharmacognostic profile of leaves of Capparis incanescens by macroscopic, microscopic, powder microscopic, quantitative microscopic and histochemical parameter.The leaves are simple, coriaceous, dark green on the upper surface and light green on the lower surface, with a characteristic odour and slightly bitter taste. Under the anatomical examination, the single layer epidermis was observed with thick cuticle, multicellular trichomes, parenchymatous cortex, collateral vascular bundles, dorsiventral mesophyll, palisade and spongy tissues and scattered sclereids. Powder microscopy revealed covering trichomes, epidermal fragments, palisade cells, spiral and palisade vessels, petiole epidermis, sclereids and cluster crystals. Leaf was hypostomatic and anomocytic stomatal type. Epidermal number, stomatal number, stomatal index, palisade ratio, vein-islet number and vein-termination number were recorded. Histochemical tests revealed the presence of cutin, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, mucilage and lignin in certain tissues. Macroscopic, anatomical, powder, quantitative, and histochemical features are valuable tools for the authentication and quality standardization of C. incanescens leaves, and can be used as reference standards in future pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies.