Published online in http://ijam.co.in ISSN: 0976-5921 Omprakash KK et.al., Pharmacognostic studies of the leaf and stolon of Pistia Stratiotes Linn. 128 Research article Pharmacognostic studies of the leaf and stolon of Pistia stratiotes Linn. K.K.Omprakash*, R.Rathinamala 1 , R.Rajasekaran 2 , & Sasikala Ethirajulu 3 1. Ph.D Scholar, National Institute of Siddha, Chennai. 2. Research Officer (Siddha), National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad. 3. Asst. Director (Pharmacognosy) Siddha Central Research Institute, Chennai. Abstract Pistia stratiotes Linn. is found in ponds and streams throughout India. The plant has demulcent, refrigerant activities and useful in the treatment of dysuria. It is considered as antiseptic, antitubercular and antidysenteric. It is used in the preparation of inorganic Ayurveda and Siddha medicaments. The leaves are used in eczema, leprosy, ulcer, piles, and syphilis. The present study deals with the various pharmacognostical examinations include the morphological, microscopical characters and physiochemical characters like ash values and extractive values. The preliminary phytochemical screening is also carried out and it is revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents like Steroid, Triterpenoid, Phenol, Flavanoid, Tanin, Alkaloid, Glycoside and Saponin. These data’s could be used to standardize the plant which is essential and is need of the hour. Keywords: Pistia stratiotes L., Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry Introduction: Pistia is a monotypic genus of floating aquatic stoloniferous herb (Fig 1), represented as Pistia stratiotes L.(Fam: Araceae). It is distributed in the tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa and America. Four varieties are recognised. The Indian variety is known as var.cuneata Engl(1). It is commonly known as Water lettuce in English, Akayathamarai or Antharathamarai in Tamil and Kumbhika or Jalakumbhi in Sanskrit. The plant is considered as antiseptic, antitubercular, antidysenteric, anthelmintic (1) and used to destroy bugs (2). The leaves are having refrigerant, demulcent, laxative (3) activities. They are also used in eczema, leprosy, ulcers, piles and syphilis (1). The leaves are made into poultice and externally applied for piles. Mixed with rice and coconut milk it is given for dysentery. The leaves mixed with rosewater and sugar is given for asthma and cough. The ash of the plant is applied to the ringworm of the scalp. Juice of the leaves boiled in coconut oil is applied externally in chronic skin diseases (4). The plant is one of the important ingredients in Siddha formulations viz. Karuvanga parpam used for vadha diseases (5), Sangu parpam (6) and Uppu chenduram (7) etc, which are prescribed for gastric ulcer. The plant is reported to contain stigmasta-4, 22-dien-3-one, stigmasterol, stigmasteryl stearate, palmitic acid (8), a new stigmastane 11α-hydroxy-24(s) ethyl- 5α-cholest-22-ene-3,6dione, three new sitosterol acylglycosides viz. sitosterol-3- 0(2’4’-0-diacetyl - 6’ – 0 - stearyl) – β - D glucopyranoside;sitosterol – 3 – 0 - (2’-0- * Corresponding Author: Dr. K.K.Omprakash Siddha Physician, Chennai Email: kkomprakash@gmail.com Phone: 09444216007