PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF POLYGONUM CHINENSE L.

B. Ezhilan and R. Neelamegam*

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of pharmacognostic properties, fluorescence behaviour and preliminary phytochemical analysis was done in whole plant sample of Polygonum chinense, collected from Nallur village, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. Anatomical structure of P. chinense leaf, lamina, young and old stem, root samples and powder samples were studied. Pharmacognostic physical properties, –total ash (19.13%), water soluble ash (15%), acid soluble ash (70%), sulphated ash (96%) and residue on ignition (93.67%), were estimated. Maximum extractive value was noted in water extract (8%) while the maximum successive extractive value was noted in ethanol extract (2.5%). The fluorescence behaviour of P. chinense whole plant sample was observed in various solvents and their extracts under day light, fluorescence light and UV light (at 254nm and 365nm). Preliminary phytochemical analysis in the whole plant sample of P. chinense indicates the presence of phenols and tannins in all solvents, tested. The evaluation of anatomical and physico-chemical properties of P. chinense is useful for determining the quality and purity of the crude drug prepared from this plant.

Keywords: Polygonum chinense, anatomy, pharmacognosy properties, fluorescence properties, preliminary phytochemicals.