Pharmacognostic and physicochemical evaluation of the leaf and root of <i>Uvaria chamae</i> (P. Beauv.) annonaceae

The ethnomedicinal use of Uvaria chamae (P. Beauv) Annonaceae as an antimalarial has been scientifically justified. This study was carried out to determine the pharmacognostic and physicochemical characters of its leaf and root with a view to establishing pharmacopoeial parameters for their quality control. The fresh leaf and root of U. chamae, collected and authenticated in the IFE Herbarium, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, were preserved in ethanol (50%) while some were oven-dried and powdered. Organoleptic evaluation of the fresh samples and microscopy of the powders were carried out according to standard methods. Transverse section and surface preparation of the fresh leaf as well as radial and tangential longitudinal sections of the root were carried out. Physicochemical properties such as moisture content, ash and extractive values were determined. The methanol extracts of the powders were subjected to HPLC-MS analysis. The transverse section of the leaf revealed a dorsiventral midrib and striated cuticle. On the abaxial surface, paracytic stomata were observed but the adaxial surface lacked stomata while the vascular bundle was of the collateral type. The root of U. chamae had prismatic calcium oxalate crystals and tyloses. The physicochemical results were as follow: the total ash (9.6 & 9.7%), loss on drying (8.8 & 8.1%), alcohol extractive value (3.5 & 0.8%), water-extractive value (4.5 & 1.3%) for the leaf and root, respectively. Flavonoids such as pinocembrin and chamanetin were identified in the root. The study revealed pharmacognostic and chemical profiles that may aid the identity, and therefore, quality control of U. chamae.