A Pharmacognostical Study on Fumaria parvifora Lamk Karuna Modi, Aeshna Amin and Mamta Shah * Department of Pharmacognosy, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad - 380009, Gujarat, India; mbshah2007@redifmail.com *Author for correspondence Email: mbshah2007@redifmail.com JOURNAL OF NATURAL REMEDIES 1. Introduction Fumaria parvifora Lamk., (Syn. Fumaria indica (Haussk.) Pugsley, Fam. Fumariaceae commonly known as Parpata, is a valued herb in Ayurvedic system of medicine but falls under the category of controversial drugs. It is difuse, annual weed growing through out India from Indo- Gangetic plains to down Nilgiris in South 1 . Entire herb is traditionally used in leprosy, fever 2 , detoxifcation, and as laxative, diuretic and diaphoretic 3 . Abstract Fumaria parvifora Lamk., is a valued herb in Ayurvedic medicine and is used as Parpata by majority of Ayurvedic practtoners amongst the other plant sources mentoned under the same common name. It is found in many parts of India from Indo-Gangetc plain and Nepal down to the Nilgiri Mountains. The whole plant is diuretc, diaphoretc, aperient, laxatve and anthelmintc. It is used as antpyretc, blood purifer and in skin disorders. In the present study, physico-chemical parameters were established for identfcaton of the drug. Protopine and β-sitosterol were quantfed by validated HPTLC method, developed using precoated silica gel plates as a statonary phase and toluene:ethyl acetate:diethyl amine (7:2:1) and toluene:methanol (9.4:0.6) as a mobile phase respectvely. It is a difuse, annual herb with thin winged stem; alternate leaf fnely divided into small, linear lanceolate segments, small white or pink fowers with purplish tps. Microscopically root can be characterized by the presence of centrally located diarch primary xylem encircled by wide secondary xylem occupying major area and a narrow cork; stem by collenchymatous hypodermis, vascular bundle capped with lignifed pericyclic fbres and hollow pith; leaf by vascular bundles with groups of sclerenchyma underneath the phloem and narrow spongy parenchymatous lamina. Powder can be typifed by xylem vessels with varied thickening, lignifed and thick walled testa and spherical pollen grains. The plant was found to be rich in alkaloids. The amount of protopine and β-sitosterol were found to be 0.47–0.50% w/w and 0.23–0.26% w/w. The quality parameters and HPTLC method developed would serve as useful gauge in standardizaton of Fumaria parvifora. Keywords: Fumaria parvifora, HPTLC, Protopine, β-Sitosterol Te plant is shown to possess hypoglycaemic 4 , hepatoprotective 5 , antipyretic 6 , acetylcholiesterase inhibitory 7 , anthelmintic 8 and antispasmodic 9 activities. Major chemical constituents reported include alkaloids like protopine 10–12 , adlumidiceine 12,13 , parfumine 10–12,14 , berberine 10 , palmatine 12 , dihydrosanguinarine 11 , fumaricine 12 , 8-oxocoptisine 13 , β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol 15 . Te present study aims at establishing quality parameters and HPTLC profle for protopine and β-sitosterol. DOI:10.18311/jnr/2016/748