Pharmacognostic characterization and development of standardization parameters for the quality control of Entada africana Guill. & Perr

This study focused on establishing standard parameters for the identification and quality control of an indigenous medicinal plant, Entada africana through macro and micro-morphological, physicochemical and phytochemical evaluation of the leaf and stem bark. Microscopy of the whole leaf revealed wavy and straight walled epidermal cells, hypostomatic paracytic stomata, an arch shaped collaterally closed vascular bundle, collenchyma, sclerenchyma and palisade cells. Prismatic calcium oxalate crystals, stone cells, fibres, pitted and scalariform xylem vessels were also identified in the microscopy of powdered samples. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenes and sterols. Physiochemical parameters such as the moisture content, ash content, mineral content, solvent soluble extractives and pH of edible extracts were determined. Fluorescence analysis and UV fingerprints were also developed for the methanol extracts. The current results provide necessary information for the correct identification and quality assessment of E. africana crude drug or herbal products containing the plant.
Source: Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research