PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF TREMA ORIENTALIS LEAF Original Article HITEKSHA S. PANCHAL*, STAVAN M. MASTER, AJAY K. SALUJA, MARIYAN R. PATEL A. R. College of Pharmacy and G. H. Patel Institute of Pharmacy, V. V. Nagar, Anand, Gujarat, India Email: hitekshapanchal22@yahoo.com Received: 23 Apr 2013 Revised and Accepted: 22 Mar 2014 ABSTRACT Trema orientalis (Ulmaceae) is native to India. This tree species has been of interest to researchers because it is a medicinal plant employed in the Indian indigenous system of medicine. Pharmacognostic standardization, physic-chemical evaluation of the leafs of Trema orientalis was carried out to determine its macro-and micro-scopical characters and also some insoluble ash and sulphated ash values, alcohol-and water-soluble extractive values were determined for phytochemical evaluations. Preliminary phytochemical screening was also done to detect different phytoconstituents. Microscopically, Leaf showed trichomes, Lamina, midrib regions, stomata and calcium oxalate crystals. Powder microscopy showed mesophyll region, abundant xylem vessels with annular thickenings and xylem vessels, Unicellular, multiseriate covering trichomes and glandular trichomes, Rosette and prism shape calcium oxalate crystals, Anomocytic stomata. Total ash was approximately two times and four times more than acid insoluble and water soluble as, respectively Ethanol soluble extractive was approximately two times higher than water soluble extractive. TLC of petroleum ether and ethanol extract showed five spots using Hexane: Ethyl acetate (12:4) and four spot using Choloroform: Ethyl acetate (5:4). Phytochemically, root exhibited phytosterols, Flavanoids, Tannin and phenolic compounds. Keywords: Trema orientalis, Macroscopy, Microscopy, Phytoconstituents, R f (retention factors). INTRODUCTION Trema orientalis which is popularly known as Gol in Ayurveda is distributed more or less throughout (except Kutch) in deciduous forests of India, Ceylon, China-Malay Island, Singapore, Australia, tropical and subtropical regions of Pakistan [1,2]. Leaf, Stem and Root of the plant is reported for treatment of diarrhea [3], passing of blood in the urine, epilepsy and muscular pain [4]. Literature revealed that pharmacognostic studies have not been reported for the leaf of this plant. Therefore the main aim of the present work is to study the macro, microscopic and some other pharmacognostic characters and physic-chemical standards of leaf of Trema orientalis which could be used to explore this plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of plant material Fresh leaves were collected from the Idar, Gujarat during November, 2008. Botanical identification was carried out using local floras and authenticated by Dr. Reddy, Prof. and Head of Botany Dept., Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar. Voucher herbarium specimen [HSP/TO-6/37] is preserved along with crude drug sample at the herbarium of A. R. College of Pharmacy, Vallabh Vidyanagar. Pharmacognostic evaluation Macroscopy Macroscopical studies of leaf were done by naked eye and shape, colour, taste and odour of leafs were determined and reported. Microscopy Pharmacognostical evaluation including histochemical study was carried out by taking free-hand sections according to Wallis and powder studies according to Evans. The section was stained with toludiene blue solution and mounted in glycerin [5, 6]. A separate section was prepared and stained with iodine solution for the identification of starch grains. Powder (Sieve mesh 60 of the dried leaf was used for the observation of powder microscopical character [7]. The powdered drug was separately treated with pholoroglucinol-hydrochloric (1:1) solution. Photomicrographs were obtained by observing free-hand sections of drug under compound Trinocular microscope (Labomed-Lx-004). Physico-chemical evaluations Physicochemical parameters of T. orientalis leaf powder was determined and reported as total ash, water-soluble ash, acid- insoluble ash, and sulphated ash values. Alcohol and water-soluble extractive values were determined to find out the amount of water and alcohol soluble components [8]. The moisture content was also determined. As a part of quantitative microscopy, stomatal number, stomatal index, vein islet number, vein termination number and palisde ratio were determined by using fresh leaves of the plant [9]. Phytochemical analysis Preliminary phytochemcial screening The dried powdered plant material was successively extracted with the solvents of increasing polarity in a Soxhlet apparatus utilizing petroleum ether (60-80), Toluene, acetone, chloroform, methanol and water. The liquid extracts obtained with different solvents were collected and the consistency, color, appearance of the dried extracts and their percentage yield were noted. The extracts obtained from powder by successive solvent extraction were subjected to qualitative examination for the phytoconstituents like alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, phytosterols, fixed oils, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids, proteins and amino acids by the reported methods [10]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Macroscopy Leaf blade 10-18(-22)×5-9(-11) cm, leathery and fragile, obliquely ovate, crenate-serrulate; unequal sided at the base; alternate charactaceous somewhat rough above; clothed beneath with soft often white pubescent, and surface completely hidden by hairs, apex acuminate to acute; basally 3-veined; secondary veins 4-6 on each side of midvein. Petiole is 6-10 mm long; slender; pubescent. The leaf is green in color; obliquely ovate in shape; Surface is completed hidden by hairs; Margin is crenate-serrulate; basally 3-veined; (fig. 1) Taste: slightly bitter; Odour: without characteristic. Microscopy Transverse section of leaf The Transverse Section of the leaf showed a lamina and midrib portion. Lamina is of dorsiventral type, differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma. Upper and lower epidermis (Ep) shows the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 7, Issue 5, 2015 Innovare Academic Sciences