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. 2016 Jul-Sep;36(1):35-41.
doi: 10.4103/0257-7941.195411.

Pharmacognostical Standardization of Upodika- Basella alba L.: An Important Ayurvedic Antidiabetic Plant

T R Shantha  1 , P Patchaimal  1 , M Prathapa Reddy  1 , R Kishore Kumar  1 , Devesh Tewari  2 , Vandana Bharti  1 , G Venkateshwarlu  1 , A K Mangal  2 , M M Padhi  2 , K S Dhiman  2
Affiliations

Pharmacognostical Standardization of Upodika- Basella alba L.: An Important Ayurvedic Antidiabetic Plant

T R Shantha et al. Anc Sci Life. 2016 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To establish the pharmacognostic standards for the correct identification and standardization of an important Antidiabetic plant described in Ayurveda.

Materials and methods: Standardization was carried out on the leaf and stem of Basella alba L. with the help of the macro-morphological, microscopic, physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical studies.

Results: Several specific characters were identified viz. clustered calcium oxalate crystals in the cortex region, absence of trichomes, succulent, thick, mucilaginous, fibrous stem. Rubiaceous type of stomata on both sides of the leaf. Quantitative microscopy along with physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical analysis were also established.

Conclusion: The pharmacognostic standards could serve as the reference for the proper identification of the Basella alba L. which is an important anti-diabetic plant described in Ayurveda.

Keywords: Anti-diabetic; Basella alba; microscopy; standardization; thin layer chromatography.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) T.S. of stem × 10 × ×4, (b) enlarged portion showing prominent pericycle and vascular bundle × 10 × ×10. cu: cuticle, epi: epidermis, pi: pith, scl: sclerenchyma, vb: vascular bundle
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) T.S. of the petiole, (b) T.S. of the petiole portion enlarged, (c) T.S. of the leaf through midrib region, (d) T.S. of the leaf through laminar region. avb: accessory vascular bundle, cor: cortex, cu: cuticle, cr: crystals, epi: epidermis, lepi: lower epidermis, pa: parenchyma, pal: palisade, ph: phloem, spar: spongy parenchyma, uepi: upper epidermis, vb: vascular bundle, xy: xylem
Figure 3
Figure 3
Powder microscopy of stem: (a) Powder macroscopy, (b) epidermal cells in surface view, (c) calcium oxalate crystals, (d) spiral and helical vessel, (e) pitted xylem vessel, (f) spiral xylem vessel, (g) reticulate xylem vessel, (h) Elongated fiber and parenchymatous cells
Figure 4
Figure 4
Powder microscopy of leaf: (a) Leaf powder macroscopy, (b) epidermal cells in surface view, (c) prism crystals, (d) reticulate vessel, (e) crystals, (f) helical xylem vessel, (g) starch grains, (h) epidermal cells with stomata
Figure 5
Figure 5
TLC fingerprint studies: (a-d) Petroleum ether extract of stem and leaves under UV-254 and after derivatization, (e-h) chloroform extract of stem and leaves under UV-254 and after derivatization, (i-l) Methanol extract of stem and leaves under UV-254 and after derivatization
Figure 6
Figure 6
Basella alba - Habitat
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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