Morpho-Anatomical and Pharmacognostic Properties of Whitfieldia elongata (P. Beauv.) De Wild. & T. Durand

Abstract

Whitfieldia elongata (P. Beauv.) De Wild. & T. Durand is a species in the family Acanthaceae which is used in folklore medicine for the management of pains, food poisoning and stomach complaints. The aim of this study was to document the taxonomic and pharmacognostic characters for its identification and standardization. The microscopic, micromeritics, chemomicroscopy, flourescense analysis, powder microscopy, foliar epidermal and petiole anatomy, moisture content, ash values, extractive values, preliminary phytochemical screening and Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry were done using standard methods. Irregular epidermal cell shapes were present on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Stomatal distribution was hypostomatc with diacytic stomata on the abaxial surface. The leaf had a good flow rate while the stem had a poor flow rate with the value higher than 400. Moisture contents were 13.8% and 13.6% for the leaf and stem respectively. Total ash values were 13.9 %w/w and 4.5 % w/w for the leaf and stem respectively. Water-insoluble ash 0.8 % w/w and 1.5 % w/w for the leaf and stem respectively. Chemo-microscopy revealed the presence of mucilage, lignin, starch, cellulose and protein while calcium oxalate crystal was absent. Oil was present and in the stem powder. Fluorescence characteristics showed the presence of different colours supporting the various phytoconstituents for the leaf and stem. The preliminary phytochemical result revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes and glycosides while alkaloid was absent. The GC-MS analysis of the ethanol leaf and stem extract revealed the presence of 34 and 33 phytochemicals respectively. The findings of this study may help in establishing standards for quality, purity, safety and efficacy of Whitfieldia elongata for phytomedicine.