Pharmocognostical and Phytochemical Evaluation of Leaf ofSphaeranthus indicus

Objective: To study detailed Pharmacognostic profile and preliminary phytochemical investigation and isolation of volatile oil, and TLC and GLC analysis of volatile oil of the leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus (Linn.) commonly known as Globethistle belongs to the family Asteraceae. The leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus (Linn.) used traditionally in Ayurveda for hyperlipidemia, epilepsy, mental illness, jaundice, diabetes, leprosy, fever cough, gastropathy, hernia, hemorrhoids, helminthiasis, dyspepsia and skin diseases and AIDS. The reports showed that it is also used for hypertensive, anxiolytic, neuroleptic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, anti-hyperglycaemic and hepato protective. It grows in rice fields, dry waste places and cultivated lands in tropical parts of India. Methods: Leaf of Sphaeranthus indicus (Linn.) was studied by Macroscopical, Microscopical,Quantitative Microscopy, Physicochemical, Phytochemical analysis of leaf powder and extracts, isolation of volatile oil from the leaf, TLC and GLC analysis of the oil of the leaves and other methods for standardization recommended by WHO. Results: Macroscopically leaves are simple, alternate, oblong, spatulate, spinous, surface pubescent, base decurrently forming the wings of the stem, acute, glandular, hairy and narrowed at the base up to 5.0x1.5 cm, leaf margins are coarsely serrate or dentate. Fresh leaves are dark green in colour and dried leaves are greenish black colour. The leaves are bitter in taste with pleasant odour when fresh, the aroma gradually diminishing on drying and storing. The leaf has distinct midrib and thick, soft lamina. The midrib is plano-convex in cross-sectional view with single top-shaped collateral vascular bundle surrounded by parenchymatous cells. No sclerenchyma cells are seen in the vascular bundle. The lamina is dorsiventral; however the mesophyll tissue is not well differentiated into palisade and spongy tissues. Characteristic epidermal trichomes are abundant on the leaf. Some of the trichomes are covering-type and are multicellular, uniseriate, unbranched and whip-like others are biseriate, broad, unbranched, conical with vertically oblong cells and a few tiers of apical glandular cells. Stomata are anomocytic; anticlinal walls of the epidermal cells are highly wavy. Vein islets are distinct, with one, simple or branched vein terminations. Petiole is circular in sectional view with aerenchymatous outer ground tissue, broad central tissue and is open ring of discrete collateral vascular bundles. The investigations also included leaf surface data; quantitative leaf microscopy. Physiochemical parameters such as loss on drying, extractive values and ash values were also determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of sterols, terpenoids, carbohydrates, flavonoids (Isoflavone), tannins and volatile oil. TLC studies reveal that the presence of isoflavone glycosides. Essential oil have been analysed by GLC and their components were identified and quantified. Conclusions: The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material in future investigations and applications.