Pharmacognostic evaluation of stem bark and leaves of Anogeissus pendula Edgew

Background: Anogeissus pendula Edgew has ethnomedicinal importance in various parts of India. It is used in diarrhoea, dysentery, cough, wound healing, burns, skin diseases and gastric disorder. No attempts have been made regarding pharmacognostic investigation of the plant till date. Aim: The present study aimed to perform the pharmacognostic study of leaf and stem bark of Anogeissus pendula Edgew. Settings and Design: The study was designed in accordance with standard procedures. Materials and Methods: Pharmacognostic studies viz. organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical and chromatographic fingerprinting on fresh and dried plant parts along with the hydroalcoholic extracts were conducted. Results and Conclusions: A. pendula has dorsiventral oblanceolate to obovate leaves arranged in opposite pairs while the stem bark has rough appearance and ash to greyish white in colour. Leaves have anomocytic type of stomata. The characteristic microscopic features of leaves were observed to be epidermal cells, palisade and spongy parenchyma, vascular bundles, xylem and phloem cells. Stem bark microscopy revealed the presence of periderm, secondary cortex and secondary phloem. Chromatographic fingerprinting of extracts showed the presence of flavonoids (Rutin and Quercetin) and they were quantified. Rutin was found to be 6.23% w/w in leaves and 9.97% w/w in stem bark extract while Quercetin to be 27.29% w/w and 51.62% respectively. The present study evaluated various pharmacognostic parameters which will help in quality control (standardization) of A. pendula Edgew in crude form, in herbal formulations and also aid in the preparation of an herbal monograph for the species.