Comparative Pharmacognostic and Preliminary Phytochemical Studies of Tinospora cordifolia

Abstract

In present study, pharmacognostical, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies of T. cordifolia (Menispermaceae) stems, climbing on six different trees [Anthocephalus cadamba (Tc1), Ficus religious (Tc2), Cassia fistula (Tc3), Terminalia belerica (Tc4), Ficus rumphi (Tc5) and Magnifera indica (Tc6)] were evaluated and compared. Morphologically all the materials were similar, but they were having some differences in their microscopical features. Percentage total ash (Tc1: 6.7, Tc2: 5.6, Tc3: 5.9, Tc4: 5.0, Tc5: 4.3 and Tc6: 4.7% w/w), acid-insoluble ash (Tc1: 1.0, Tc2: 1.8, Tc3: 2.1, Tc4: 2.2, Tc5: 1.8 and Tc6: 2.4% w/w), water soluble extractive (Tc1: 22.1, Tc2: 11.6, Tc3: 12.8, Tc4: 10.6, Tc5: 18.4 and Tc6: 19.6% w/w), ethanol soluble extractive (Tc1: 4.3, Tc2: 8.1, Tc3: 13.6, Tc4: 3.3, Tc5: 7.6 and Tc6: 7.1% w/w), moisture content (Tc1: 8.0, Tc2: 9.2, Tc3: 8.2, Tc4: 5.7, Tc5: 7.1 and Tc6: 6.2% w/w) were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of inorganic constituents like calcium (Tc1 to Tc6), magnesium (Tc1), potassium (Tc2, Tc3 and Tc5), Iron (Tc1 to Tc6 except Tc4), sulphate (Tc1 to Tc6 except Tc3), phosphate (Tc1), carbonate (Tc4), and nitrates (Tc3); and organic constituents viz. carbohydrates, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins in the plant. Further, TLC of methanolic extract of the plant material showed 7, 5, 6, 7, 7 and 7 spots in Tc1, Tc2, Tc3, Tc4, Tc5 and Tc6 respectively. The different salient diagnostic features established in this study will help for proper identification and standardization of the drug in crude form, and then the plant material can be used for further studies. Further, the plant climbing on different trees could be explored for maximizing the significant phytoconstituents and the therapeutic potential of the plant.