~ 29 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2014; 2(4): 29-31 ISSN 2320-3862 JMPS 2014; 2(4): 29-31 © 2014 JMPS Received: 21-06-2014 Accepted: 05-07-2014 Santosh Kumar Singh Ph.D. Scholar, Pacific college of Pharmacy, Pacific University, P.B.- 12 Pacific Hills, Airport Road, Pratap Nagar Extension, Debari, Udaipur-313024, Rajasthan, India. Jay Ram Patel Principal, RKDF College of Pharmacy, NH-12, Hoshangabad Road, Misrod, Bhopal- 462047, Madhya Pradesh, India. Prashant Kumar Dubey Assistant Professor, IES College of Pharmacy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Arvind Dangi Lectuter, Mittal Institute of Pharmacy, Opp. Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, By Pass Road, Nabibagh, Bhopal- 462038, Madhya Pradesh, India. Correspondence: Santosh Kumar Singh Ph.D. Scholar, Pacific college of Pharmacy, Pacific University, P.B.- 12 Pacific Hills, Airport Road, Pratap Nagar Extension, Debari, Udaipur-313024, Rajasthan, India. Pharmacognostic study and phytochemical screening of leaf of Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae) Santosh Kumar Singh, Jay Ram Patel, Prashant Kumar Dubey, Arvind Dangi Abstract Adhatoda vasica commonly known as vasaka or also known as Roosh near to rural place Papaura, District Rewa (M.P.) India. In the pharmacognostic study of vasaka (leafs) was carried out the some major pharmacognostic study includes macroscopy, microscopy, phytochemical screening, highest values were found with the extraction of water and ethanol, phytochemical screening were confirmed by the presence of Tannins, Alkaloids, Saponins, Steroids, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Carbohydrates. Keywords: Adhatoda vasica, Phytochemical screening, Pharmacognostic, etc. 1. Introduction Adhatoda vasica, also known as malabar nut tree is part of the Acanthaceae plant family. It is a small evergreen, sub-herbaceous bush which grows commonly in open plains, especially in the lower Himalayas (up to 1300 meters above sea level), India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Malaysia [1] . The Vasaka plant perennial, evergreen and highly branched with unpleasant smell and bitter taste, the plant lives for multiple seasons and retains its leaves throughout the year. It is a shrub 1.0 m to 2.5 m in height, with opposite ascending branches [2] . It is a highly reputed plant used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments of respiratory systems like bronchitis, asthma and it is also used in the treatment of malaria, dysentery and diarrhea [3] and has many other medicinal applications (2-4), it shows potent anti-inflammatory activity [4] and Adhatoda vasica was traditionally used by midwives at the time of delivery because of its uterotonic activity. Due to its anti-implantation activity, adhatoda should not be used while pregnant [5] . Adhatoda vasica Linn. Also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diarrhoea, dysentery, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, Sedative, antispasmodic, anthelmintic properties [6] , Antimicrobial activity [7] , Antidiabetic activity [8] , Wound healing effect [9] . Infertility [10] . Anti- ulcer [11] . Antibacterial [12] . Antihistaminic effect, moderate hypotensive activity, thrombopoietic activity [13] . Cardiac depressant, uterotonic and abortifacient. The leaves are found to activate the digestive enzyme trypsin. An extract of the leaves showed significant antifungal activity against ringworm [14] . 2. Material and Methods 2.1 Plant collection Leaves of Adhatoda vasica were collected from Papaura, District-Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India. In May 2014, it was authenticated by Dr. J. R. Patel (Professor). Dept. of Pharmacognosy. KDF College of Pharmacy, RKDF University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The leaves were sun dried and make a powders were analyzed for following Pharmacognostic study and Phytochemical screening. 2.2 Pharmacognostic studies 2.2.1 Macroscopic Morphological studies of leaves such as color, size, odor, taste, surface characteristic and fracture were given in Evans. 2.2.2 Microscopy A transverse section of fresh leaf of Adhatoda vasica was taken and cleaned. A drop of