Microscopical Evaluation, Phytochemical Screening, and High‑Performance Thin‑Layer Chromatography Fingerprinting of Leaves of Diospyros montana (Roxb.)

Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to investigate imperative pharmacognostic insights, phytochemical properties, and high‑performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) profile of Diospyros montana (Roxb.) (D. montana) belonging to the family Ebenaceae. Methods: The qualitative microscopy, quantitative microscopy, and other WHO suggested parameters of standardization of dried leaves and powder were carried out as per standard procedures. Leaves were exhaustively extracted with ethanol and fractionated into petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. The established conventional methods were used for phytochemical screening and HPTLC fingerprinting. Results: Pharmacognostic assessment of D. montana (Roxb.) leaves demonstrates simple petiolated, ovate to oblong-ovate, with serrate margin, and acute apex. Leaf venation indicates brachidodrome, pinnate. The leaf surface demonstrates the unicellular covering trichomes and rananculaceous stomata, veins, vein islet, and vein termination. Transverse section of leaf demonstrates the epidermis layer covered with cuticle and vascular bundles (xylem and phloem) in the midrib region. The mesophyll region is separated into palisade and light parenchyma cells with raphides of calcium oxalate crystals. Collenchyma segments were observed in midrib toward epidermis or aligned to epidermis. Preliminary phytochemical examination demonstrated the presence of steroids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. The previously stated phytochemicals were further affirmed by thin-layer chromatography and HPTLC fingerprinting. Conclusions: In this present study, we were able to set up some diagnostic parameters for the standardization of leaf of D. montana (Roxb.).