Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 8(7): July 2015 860 ISSN 0974-3618 (Print) www.rjptonline.org 0974-360X (Online) RESEARCH ARTICLE Pharmacognostic standardization of Macrocybe crassa: An imminent medicinal mushroom Krishnendu Acharya*, Somanjana Khatua, Salman Sahid Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India. *Corresponding Author E-mail: krish_paper@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: The aim of present study was to establish standardization parameters for pharmacognostic evaluation of Macrocybe crassa, a wild edible mushroom of West Bengal. For this purpose, microscopic features of powder such as physical characters, spore measurement, type of hyphae were examined and recorded. Physico-chemical parameters like organoleptic features, loss on drying (10.53%), total ash (17.04%), swelling capacity (66.66 ml/g), water holding capacity (174.69 g/g), water solubility index (406.65%) and fluorescent behaviour against 16 reagents were also determined. Alcoholic extract was prepared using methanol as solvent where extractive value was 27.52%. Preliminary mycochemical analysis indicated the presence of cardiac glycoside, carbohydrate, flavonoid, phenol, saponin and terpenoids while absence of alkaloid and steroid in methanol extract. While quantitatively major bioactive components were present in the following order of flavonoid> phenol> ascorbic acid> β-carotene> lycopene. In addition, HPTLC and HPLC profiles were recorded to determine phenolic fingerprint. HPTLC characterization showed presence of at least 5 components as detected by scanning the plate at 300 nm. HPLC chromatogram of the extract indicated existence of minimum 14 peaks which might be of phenolic compounds. Along with, DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC 50 value 2.455 mg/ml) and total antioxidant capacity (7.4 ± 1.24 µg AAE/mg of extract) were determined to evaluate antioxidant activity. The above parameters, which are being reported for the first time, are significant towards establishing the pharmacognostic standards for future identification and authentication of genuine mushroom material. KEY WORDS: Antioxidant property, HPLC, HPTLC, Pharmacognostic standardization, Physico-chemical evaluation, Wild edible mushroom. INTRODUCTION: Pharmacognosy is a simple and reliable tool for characterization of crude drug or potential drug of natural origin. It deals with the study of physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs. Over years it has evolved with modern analytical techniques and recently it has gained immense importance to scientific world. The main purpose of pharmacognosy is to authenticate and quality control of crude drugs by investigating various aspects such as macroscopic, microscopic, physico-chemical and fluorescence analysis along with phytochemical screening 1,2 . Thus it is extremely important to make an effort towards developing standards of the natural drugs to be used as medicine. Received on 13.06.2015 Modified on 20.06.2015 Accepted on 24.06.2015 © RJPT All right reserved Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 8(7): July, 2015; Page 860-866 DOI: Mushrooms have been valued by human kind as a medicinal resource and nutritional food from ancient times. To date, about 700 species are known to possess significant therapeutic properties including antioxidant 3- 5 , anti-diabetic 6 , hepato-protective 7-9 , antimicrobial 10,11 , immune-modulatory 12-17 , anticancer 18,19 , anti-ulcer 20 etc. One such potential mushroom is Macrocybe crassa which has been recently explored for its nutritional, medicinal prospect and identification of bioactive component. This wild mushroom grows mainly in tropical region and commonly known as milky mushroom due to its brilliant white colour along with sweet flavour. It also possesses satisfactory nutritional value which is much promising for commercialization 21 . Patra et al (2012) have isolated 2 different heterogylcan and proved their immunomodulation and antioxidant activity 22 . Another important mycochemical in M. crassa is phenolic compounds which could be extracted by