Pharmacognostic Standardization of Oldenlandia corymbosa

Abstract

Oldenlandia corymbosa (L.) (Rubiaceae) is a weedy annual herb, found throughout India. It is commonly known as “Parppatakapullu” in traditional medicine of Kerala. The plant is known to clear heat and toxins, activate blood circulation, promote diuresis and relieve stranguria. The present study deals with a detailed pharmacognostical study of Oldenlandia corymbosa (Rubiaceae). Morphoanatomy of the leaf was studied using world Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal plant material. Literature revels that the phytoconstituents like steroids, terpenes, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, phenolics and tannins are present in the plant. Or preliminary phytochemical studies of plant reveled presence of terpenes, flavonoids, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, phenolics and tannins. The physico-chemical, morphological and microscopical parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of Oldenlandia corymbosa and can possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other species and the pharmacognostic profile of the plant presented here will assist in standardization viz., quality, purity and sample identification.