ABSTRACT
Sunishannaka (Marsilea quadrifolia Linn) is a known pteridophytic creeping aquatic fern, commonly known as European Water Clover belonging to the family Marsileaceae which is being used extensively since Samhita period. According to Acharya Vagbhata, it is included among Pathyaahara or Nityasevaniyaahara which itself shows its nutritional importance. Pteridophytes have considerable importance in traditional pharmacopoeias, whereas scientific studies on pharmacognosy of this group are scanty. Records of indigenous medicinal knowledge about pteridophytes need to be given top priority to aid the protection of such knowledge before they vanish from present day traditional healers. This work aims at understanding the organoleptic features and microscopic details of leaf, petiole and rhizome(stem) and root of Marsilea quadrifolia Linn. Even though the drug Sunishannaka (Marsilea quadrifolia Linn) is being used by traditional Vaidyas, but the detailed study regarding the microscopical aspects of the plant has not been documented in detail. So the present paper will definitely throw a light towards the microscopical characters of the plant which is much essential to provide a key towards identification of the plant source and to prevent any adulterations.
ABSTRACT
The drug Guchakaranja is mentioned as one of Karanja variety by Raj Nighantu and Nighantu Ratnakara. The references of the drug are not seen in other classical textbooks of Ayurveda and the only references seen in these two Nighantus. The drug had been correlated to Karinjotta, a locally available plant in Kerala. The drug Guchakaranja is botanically correlated as Quassia indica Gaertn (Samadera indica Gaertn) belonging to the family Simaroubaceae commonly known as Niepa bark tree. The drug had been extensively used in folklore practices and usage of the plant in main stream clinical practices is less. So giving a standardization and to justify its traditional usages preliminary phyochemical analysis had been done. The preliminary phytochemical analysis aims at analyzing the physico chemical property of drugs, their qualitative analysis, ash values, extractive values, moisture and volatile contents, estimation of Tannins and Phenols and HPTLC. Previous studies are available regarding the Qualitative Analysis of phytochemicals, tannin and total phenolic estimation. References regarding ash values, quantitative estimation of fiber, reducing sugar and total sugar, pH, cold and hot alcohol and water soluble extractives, moisture content were not available from previous research works On analyzing the phytochemical constituents present in the crude drug, the drug revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, steroids, and tannins. This phytoconstituents present in the drug may be responsible for specific action of the drug. This preliminary phytochemical evaluation may be helpful to identify the potential of Guchakaranja and should be helpful in developing new formulations with additional therapeutic effect.