Pharmacognostical and phytochemical investigations of the whole plant of Swertia chirata and Hemidesmus indicus

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DOI: 10.4103/2231-4040.197331

Swertia chirata and Hemidesmus indicus have been used in traditional and folklore medicine for the treatment of several critical diseases and disorders. The present study was themed to preliminary pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigationsfor determining and establishing the identity, purity and quality of these plants. This will provide an appropriate guidance for future exploration. The plants were subjected to determination of various physicochemical parameters including ash values (total ash, water soluble ash) and extractive values (alcohol soluble extractive, water soluble extractive). The powdered crude drugs were extracted successively with various solvents with increasing polarity and the methanolic extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening for the identification of various phytoconstituents. The results of these phytochemical examinations revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids and tannins. Thus various pharmacognostic and phytochemical characters observed in this study may help in standardization, identification and for carrying out further research on these medicinally valuable plants.

Keywords: Swertia chirata, Hemidesmus indicus, adulteration, phytochemical screening, tannins.