PRELIMINARY PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF ROOTBARK AND STEMBARK OF GMELINA ARBOREA

the plant were subjected to macroscopical and microscopical characterization, followed by preliminary physicochemical and phytochemical evaluations. The physical parameters studied included foreign matter, moisture content, volatile oil, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive, alcohol soluble extractive, fibre content and sugar content. The preliminary phytochemical analysis included qualitative chemical analysis, Thin Layer Chromatography, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of pharmacognostic information adequate to set standards for its identification.

Gmelina arborea Roxb. Hort. Beng. is a large deciduous tree belonging to the family Verbenaceae, having vast medicinal importance in Ayurveda. The plant is widely distributed throughout India. It is mentioned by the name Kasmari and is one among the ten drugs included under Dasamoola group in the Ayurvedic classics. Since the drug is being used extensively in Indian traditional medicinal systems the present work is taken up with an objective to laydown detailed pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical standards. The rootbark and stem bark of the plant were subjected to macroscopical and microscopical characterization, followed by preliminary physicochemical and phytochemical evaluations. The physical parameters studied included foreign matter, moisture content, volatile oil, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive, alcohol soluble extractive, fibre content and sugar content. The preliminary phytochemical analysis included qualitative chemical analysis, Thin Layer Chromatography, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of pharmacognostic information adequate to set standards for its identification.

Introduction:-
Gmelina arborea Roxb. Hort. Beng (Kasmari) is one among the ten drugs included under Dasamoola group in the Ayurvedic classics. Macroscopically Kasmari is a large deciduous tree (figure 1) found throughout India( Narayana Iyer K and Kolammal M, 1978). Different parts of the plant can be used medicinally like root bark, fruit, leaf, flower, bark. It is one of the crude drugs in many of the Ayurvedic medicinal preparations like Dasamularishta, Drakshadi kwatha, Kasmaryadi panaka etc(Dr.J L N Sastry, 2014). Pharmacognostic study is the initial step to confirm the identity to assess the quality of crude drug. The adulteration of the crude drug can be detected by means of these studies. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the pharmacognostic and phytochemical parameters of the plant which will help in setting standards for identification and to ascertain the purity and quality of the plant.

Macroscopic evaluation:-
The rootbark and stembark of Kasmari (Gmelina arborea Roxb. Hort. Beng) were subjected to organoleptic evaluation. A magnifying lens was used for a better evaluation of surface characters and the observed macroscopic characters were recorded.

Microscopic evaluation:-
For microscopical studies transverse sections of rootbark and stembark were prepared and stained as per standard procedure (C.K.Kokate and A.P.Purohit, 2014).The powders of drugs were studied microscopically and the characters were observed.

Preliminary Physicochemical and Phytochemical evaluation:-
The preliminary physicochemical and phytochemical analysis of the rootbark and stembark of Kasmari (Gmelina arborea Roxb. Hort. Beng) were done according to the standard procedures described in API (Ayurvedic Pharmacoepia of India, 2001), which includes: physical evaluation like evaluation of moisture content, volatile oil, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble extractive, alcohol soluble extractive, fibre content and sugar content. It also includes the qualitative tests for the detection of steroids, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).

Macroscopic evaluation:-
The observed macroscopical characters of rootbark, stembark and root of Kasmari (Gmelina arborea Roxb. Hort. Beng) are given in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3.   Sweetish at first, later turns slightly bitter.   Results of physico-chemical evaluation:-Preliminary physical and physico-chemical analysis were done and the results are summarized in Table No: 3. The ash values of a drug give an idea of the inorganic composition and other impurities present along with the drug and the value was more in stembark(4.15%) than rootbark (2.06%). Estimation of extractive values determines the amount of the active constituents in a plant material when extracted with a particular solvent. The high water solubility of the contents than alcohol solubility of both stembark and rootbark suggests aqueous extract for future studies.

Results of preliminary phytochemical analysis:-
The ethanolic extractive obtained was subjected to qualitative analysis for identification of various plant constituents like steroids, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and results were summarized in  Saponin + +

Results of TLC and HPTLC:-
The spots obtained in TLC gives a rough idea about the study plant constituents. The best separation was achieved using Chloroform: Ethyl acetate: Benzene-6:2:3. for both rootbark and stembark. The plates were first viewed through UV-fluorescence viewing cabinet (365 nm) and the Rf values of the spots were noted (Table No: 5). HPTLC was done and the HPTLC profile was shown in figure 7 and its 3D scan profile was shown in figure 8.

Results of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy:-
Atomic absorption spectroscopy is used in the determination of heavy metal elements and some non-metal elements in atomic state and the results were shown in Table No: 6. Four heavy metals-copper, cadmium, iron and lead contents were found within permissible limits. Hence the drug is not contaminated by heavy metals and can be used safely for internal administration.

Conclusion:-
Macroscopy and microscopy along with the preliminary phytochemical evaluation of stembark and rootbark confirm the quality and purity of plant and its identification. On physico chemical analysis the stembark was found with relatively high total ash value (4.15%). The preliminary phytochemical screening of stembark showed the presence of different phytoconstituent groups such as steroid, flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid and tannin. The rootbark showed the presence of steroid, phenol, saponin, alkaloid and tannin. AAS evidenced that the drug is not contaminated by heavy metals and can be used safely for internal administration. Here the observations and results obtained useful for further pharmacological and therapeutical evaluation.