PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ESSAY OF BHANDIRA (Clerodendrum infortunatum L.)

The globalisation of Ayurveda and tremendous growth in the population has led to high demand of bio resources. So many medicinal plants mentioned in the Ayurvedic classics are on the verge of extinction. So, there is a need to include new medicinal plants which are less explored to the mainstream. One such plant is Bhandira (Clerodendrum infortunatum L). The drug Bhandira (Clerodendrum infortunatum L.) is a softly tomentose perennial shrub. Bhandira is categorized into the family Lamiaceae. The root of the plant is widely used by folklore practitioners for different disorders. The drug is not much explored in Ayurveda. The pharmacognostic and phytochemical study of the drug reveals the important components of the drug. Hence, present study was undertaken to evaluate pharmacognostic and phytochemical study of the drug Bhandira (Clerodendrum infortunatum L.). In pharmacognostic study the macroscopic and microscopic studies were done. Ash analysis and preliminary phytochemical study also was done. In phytochemical study HPTLC and TLC was carried out. Preliminary phytochemical study of the drug Bhandira (C.infortunatum Linn) showed the presence of Carbohydrates, Flavonoids, Steroids, Resins, Phenolics, Tannins and Triterpenoids. Ash analysis of root of Bhandira (C.infortunatum Linn) showed the presence of Fluoride, Phosphate and Sodium among the inorganic constituents. In HPTLC documentation C.infortunatum root extract showed 7 peaks at 254nm, 8 peaks at 366nm and 11 peaks at 550nm. Keywords: Bhandira, Clerodendrum infortunatum L, Pharmacognostic study, Phytochemical study.