Preliminary Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Studies of Leaves of Hemigraphis colorata

The aim of this research was to develop the pharmacognostical parameters and phytochemical screening alongwith histological studies and quantitative microscopy of the leaf powder of Hemigraphis colorata.

The dried leaves of Hemigraphis colorata (Family: Acanthaceae) were subjected to standardization by following pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening methods. Methanolic extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) to find out various phytoconstituents.

Microscopic study showed the presence of Cuticle, covering trichome, single layered thick walled epidermis, palisade cells, transfusion tissue, spongy cells, vascular bundle and chlorenchyma. Phytochemical screening reported the presence of alkaloids, tannins, proteins; steroids and sterols were present in Methanolic extract. TLC showed two different Rf values (0.86 and 0.36) with different nature of their residues.