Pharmacognostic and Physicochemical evaluation of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. Ex Poir fruit (Hypericaceae)

Medicinal plant materials are being adulterated and substituted in commerce due to many reasons such as similar morphological features, same name as written in classical text, presence of similar active principles in the substituted plant which may badly affect the therapeutic activity of the finished products. As a result, authentication of medicinal plants is of paramount importance in ensuring quality and safety of crude drugs and herbal products. This research was aimed to evaluate and document the pharmacognostic standards for the fruits of Harungana madagascariensis. The plant sample was identified, collected and authenticated by a Taxonomist. Pharmacognostic and physicochemical evaluation were carried out on the powdered fruits of Harungana madagascariensis using standard methods. The result showed the presence of starch grains, lignified tissues, cellulose, and proteins while calcium oxalate and mucilage were absent. The moisture content (8.8±0.02)%, total ash value (5.2±0.005)%, acid insoluble ash (2.5±0.0)%, water soluble ash (2.2±0.01) % and extractive value were obtained. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, ethanol and water soluble extractive values(3±0.00, 3.75±0.25, 4.50, 8.5±0.1, 6.25±0.25 %w/w respectively which were significantly different (at p set at 0.05). The revealed pharmacognostic features, physico-chemical and microscopy/chemomicroscopy properties of H. madagascariensis could be useful in the preparation of the herbal Pharmacopoeia.