Address for correspondence: Dr. (Mrs) S. Hemalatha, Associate Professor Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, (U.P.) 221005, India, Phone No- 0542-6702746(O).09415256481(M) Email: shemalatha.phe@itbhu.ac.in DOI: **** Pharmacognosy Journal | January 2011 | Vol 2 | Issue 18 19 ORIGINAL ARTICLE PHCOG J. Pharmacognostical standardization of leaves of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites R. Kumar and S. Hemalatha* Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India. ABSTRACT Alangium lamarckii Thwaites is traditionally found to be useful for many ailments. The present study highlights the pharmacognostical as well as phytochemical studies including parameters such as macroscopic, microscopic characters, physiochemical evaluation and preliminary phytochemical studies of the leaves. Morphological studies revealed leaves were varying in length and breadth from 7 to12 cm in length and 2 to 5 cm in width. Some diagnostic characters are presence of unicellular covering trichrome varying in length from 54 µm to 150 µm, presence of branched sclerides and prism of calcium oxalate varying in size from 11x 7µm to 18x 11µm. The various physico-chemical standards and their percentage w/w were found to be: total ash (7.62%), acid insoluble ash (1.66%), water soluble ash (2.11%), alcohol soluble extractive value (18.24%), water soluble extractive value (27.36%) and loss on drying (13.01%). Preliminary phytochemical investigation showed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, tannins, triterpenoids, phytosterols, amino acids and carbohydrates. Total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteu method is found to be 150.62 mg/g equivalent to gallic acid. Total alkaloid content quantified by gravimetric method was found to be 1.114% w/w. TLC studies on leaf of A. lamarckii has been carried out. These observations will help in identification and standardization of the drug in the crude form and also to distinguish the drug from its adulterants. Key words: Alangium lamarckii, quantitative standards, TLC profile, total phenol, total alkaloid INTRODUCTION Alangium lamarckii Thwaites (Syn. A. salviifolium) belongs to family Alangiaceae is found commonly in Tropical forest of South India and occasionally grown in garden. The root, root bark, seeds and leaves of the plant is used in Indian system of medicine. The root and root bark of the plant are used as antihelmenthic and purgative, whereas fruits are used as cooling, nutritive and tonic. Leaves are useful for curing diabetes . [1-2] Decoction of bark has been used as an emetic in India. [3] Methanol extract of A. salviifolium flowers shown to have antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. [4] Methanolic extract of root of A. salviifolium have shown to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in albino mice. [5] The lyophilized powder extract of pulverized wood of A. salviifolium showed significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans. [6] Ethanolic extract of leaves of Alangium salviifolium have showed wound healing potential in rats by incision, excision, dead space (granulation) wound models at two different doses (150 and 300 mg/kg). [7] Alangium A and B from root bark and akoline, lamarkine, alangine, akharkantine from bark, have been reported. [8] The present investigation on leaf of A. lamarckii is therefore taken up to establish certain pharmacognostical and chemical standards which would help in identification as well as in checking adulteration, if any, further the study will greatly help in quality assurance of finished products of herbal drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The leaves of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites were collected from Panakudi, Tirunelveli District in the month of July 2009 and identified and authenticated by Prof. V. Chelladurai, Chief Research Botanist (Retd.) Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India. For future reference the voucher specimen (Specimen number-COG/AL/09) and the prepared herbarium was