A Pharmacognostic Study on Sphaeranthus indicus

The study is aimed at development of Physico-chemical parameters and estimation of 7-hydroxy eudesmanolide, a major sesquiterpene lactone of Sphaeranthus indicus, (Family: Astraceae), commonly known as Gorakhmundi. S. indicus is a branched, hairy and strongly scented herb with spathulate, sessile leaves and pinkish purple flowers. Leaf shows both simple (uni-multicellular) and glandular (Club and clavate) type of trichomes. Stem shows a ring of deltoid vascular bundles and well-developed pith with few pitted cells. Root shows metaderm, and radially arranged fibers and secretory canal placed alternatively in cortical region. Powdered drug shows large number of various types of trichomes, pollen grains in pollen sacs and cruciferous stomata. HPTLC method was developed to quantify 7- hydroxy eudesmanolide in S. indicus using a mobile phase n-hexane: diethyl ether (3:7) and scanning the plate at 213 nm. The amount of 7-hydroxy eudesmanolide was found to be 0.0658% w/w. The present study is an effort to develop a pharmacognostic report for S. indicus.