PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDY OF CELASTRUS PANICULATUS (JYOTISHMATI)

Pharmacognostical Study of Jyotishmati (Celastrus Paniculatus)

The term "Pharmacognosy" is derived from two Greek words, "Pharmacon" which means for drug and "gignosco" or "gnosis" means to acquire knowledge, hence Pharmacognosy is science to acquire the knowledge of the drug. It may be defined as a branch of science, which treats in detail medicinal or related products of crude or primary type, obtained from plants, animals or mineral origins.

Any plant that is used in medicine needs detailed study prior to its use, because the therapeutic efficacy absolutely depends on the quality of the plant used as drug. The detailed study of the plant enables us to differentiate between closely related species of the same genus or related genera of the same family. It is also the first step to standardize a drug, what WHO expects from the WTO signatories’ countries. By using Pharmacognosy as drug manual, the substitutes of some rare species can be suggested this would help to save them from extinction.

In nutshell, Pharmacognosy is an important bridge between the pharmaceutical and basic sciences. Pharmacognosy is vital link between Ayurvedic and allopathic system of medicines.

Before using any new drug, detail pharmacognostic study is must as it is not only helpful for correct identification but also to get a clue for its phytochemical, pharmacological and medicinal properties.

The Pharmacognostic study of the plant Celastrus paniculatus is done with a view to establish is correct botanical identity.

 

MATERIALS & METHODS

Plant Identification:

Celastrus paniculatus (Jyotishmati) was identified by referring its taxonomical and morphological characters mentioned in different Floras like ‘Flora of Saurastra’ and ‘Flora of Gujarat State’ etc.

Plant Collection:

The whole plant required for the present study was collected from Jamnagar, Hills of Junagadh. From the collected material, few samples of leaves were separated for the study of macroscopical and microscopical characters. The rest material was washed and then dried under sun and shade for the study of Powder characters and phytochemical studies.

Preservation Methods for Microscopic Studies:

Few pieces of the sample of leaves were also preserved in an air tight glass bottle containing the solution of F.A.A. (Formalin - Aceto – Alcohol; 90 ml 50% alcohol + 5 ml glacial acetic acid + 5 ml formalin) for the further microscopic studies. This mixture is used for fixing the cell and also for killing and preservation of tissue.

Powder Preparation Method:

The dried leaves of the plant were crushed they were sieved with the help of 40 # sieve for powder microscopy and phytochemical study.

Storage of Powder Material:

The powders were stored in different polythene bags or well dried and closed air tight container to protect from moisture or any other contaminations.

Pharmacognosy of Jyotishmati:

The whole Pharmacognostic study is divided into four parts:

Macroscopic characters, Microscopic characters, Powder characters, Histochemical tests.

 

(A) Macroscopic Characters:

 

Macroscopic characters of the leaves were studied systematically, like size, shape, color, odour, taste and fracture, as mentioned in the standard text books of Botany and Pharmacognosy.

 

(B) Microscopic Characters:

 

From preserved samples free hand T.S. and L.S. of root were taken separately, cleared with chloral hydrate, to observe the cell contents like crystals and any other inclusion and then stained with phloroglucinol and concentrated hydrochloric acid and temporarily preserved in glycerin.

 

T. S. of Root:

T.S. of the root is circular in outline and shows the following tissue arrangements.

       

Epiblema	Epiblema, the outermost tissue, consists of single layer composed of rectangular to oval cells filled with brownish contents and having size of 15 – 25 µ in length and 8 – 12 µ in width covered with thick cuticle layer. It contains unicellular trichomes on the surface.
Cortex	Following the epiblema, a wide range of cortex lies. It consists of thin walled, oval to oblong and tangentially elongated parenchymatous cells. The cells towards periphery being smaller than those towards centre, the size varies from 20 – 35 µ to 35 – 80 µ in length and 12 – 21 µ to 20 – 35 µ in width. The cells near to periphery contains clusters of calcium oxalate crystals while prisms of calcium oxalate crystals are distributed throughout the cortex.
Endodermis	Stelar region is differentiated form cortex by a layer of endodermis, the cells being 11 – 17 µ in length and 7 – 9 µ in width in size, and rectangular to irregular in shape.
Phloem	It consists of several layers of thin walled cubical to polygonal cells that lies just below the endodermal cells. The phloem is having non lignified fibres. Small and discontinuous patches of polygonal to hexagonal shaped sclerenchyma fibres (lignified) lies in the phloem region. Each group of these sclerenchyma fibres contains 5 - 8 lignified cells of sclerenchyma, the lumen of fibres measuring 6 – 11 µ in diameter.
Cambium	It consists of 2-3 layers of thin walled, narrow, rectangular cells situated in between phloem and xylem.
Xylem	Below the cambium compact xylem elements in centre region are present. Xylem consists of xylem parenchyma vessels, tracheids and fibres. Vessels are prominent, mostly solitary and in-group of 2-3 in polyarch shape. They are mostly large, drum-shaped and oval to oblong and occasionally with elongated sharp ends. Tracheids have blunt ends. The xylem vessels are spiral and pitted types.

 

L.S. of Root:

The longitudinal section of root shows outer epidermal cells covered with thick cuticle in continuation with tangentially elongated parenchymatous cells of cortex followed by endodermic cells; endodermic cells differentiate the stele from cortex; xylem elements are capped with phloem elements traversed with non-lignified fibers.

 

(C) Powder Characters:

 

Microscopic	The powder of plant shows fragments of cells from cortex and epiblema in surface and sectional view, few of them overlapping with each other. Non lignified fibres are seen. Solitary spiral vessels, pitted vessels with tracheids and xylem parenchyma are also seen. The powder also shows prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and brownish contents.
Macroscopic	The powder of plant is yellowish-brown in color; astringent, slightly bitter and sweetish in taste; characteristic aromatic in odour and amorphous in texture.

 

(C) Histochemical Tests:

 

Chemical reactions were conducted, within the tissue using appropriate chemicals, on the microscopic slides and observations were made under microscope to record the results.

Cell Wall	Test for Lignin
	The lignified elements like tracheids, vessels, sclerenchyma fibres etc. were detected by staining them with phloroglucinol and concentrated HCl.
Cell Contents	Test for Protein
	Iodine solution stains the substance yellowish brown and Picric acid stains the substance yellow.
	Test for Starch
	The fine powder left on the slide after removing the coarse pieces on it was mounted on dilute solution of iodine to see the presence of starch grains.
	Test for Fixed Oil
	Sudan III solution stains the substance pinkish red.
	Test for Mucilage
	The section cut dry was mounted in alcohol and it was irrigated with water from the edge of cover slip. The section mounted in Lead acetate medium is stained with freshly prepared official solution of Ruthenium red.
	Test for Tannin
	The sections were mounted in dilute solution of Ferric chloride.