Detailed pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening of Homalium ceylanicum (Gardn.) Benth. mature stem bark and developing stem

Abstract

Introduction: Kakhara, Dhanimari or Kakhda is one of the folklore plants of Odisha, which has been identified as Homalium ceylanicum (Gardn.) Benth. (Syn. H. zeylanicum Benth.) belonging to family Salicaceae (Flacourtiaceae). The stem bark and stem of the plant are used in the treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, malaria, and wound healing. Although it is used by tribal, scientifically the plant is yet to be evaluated for its pharmacognostical characters. Hence, stem bark and stem of H. ceylanicum are explored from its microscopic including powder microscopy, physiochemical, and preliminary phytochemical aspects. Materials and Methods: The plant was collected from Gandhamardana hills Paikamal - Odisha. Herbarium (Phm/6216/16-17) was authenticated by the pharmacognosist of the Institute. Pharmacognostical study, physicochemical and phytoconstituent study was performed following standard procedures. Results: Stem bark is light greenish to brown and stem is brown in color. T.S. of stem bark shows outermost cork cell layers, followed by cortical region often interrupted by discontinuous, irregular shaped patches of sclereid, and stone cells while stem shows vascular bundle with central pith. Bitter taste was observed in both samples. Physicochemical study reveals loss on drying of stem bark is 8.67; stem is 8.92. High-performance thin-layer chromatography study reveals similar Rf in both samples, i.e., 0.69 and 0.94 before spraying. Discussion and Conclusion: H. ceylanicum stem bark and stem show the presence of solitary prismatic and cluster crystal which is key characters of Salicaceae family.