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Pharmacognostic characterization and development of quality control standards for Dictamnus albus: a comparative study of different parts

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Abstract

Dictamnus albus L. (Rutaceae), commonly known as gas plant, has tremendous medicinal importance. Although the plant has been scientifically evaluated for its various biological activities but no work has not been carried out till date on pharmacognostic characterization of the plant. This study aims to investigate the comparative pharmacognostic and physicochemical standards for different parts of D. albus (leaves, stem, root, flower and fruits). The measures taken were macroscopy, organoleptic study, anatomy, powder microscopy, foreign matter analysis, ash values, loss on drying, swelling index, foaming index, pH values, fluorescence analysis and extractive yield. Macroscopic and organoleptic studies revealed that D. albus is a herbaceous perennial with thick and branched root; lanceolate, sessile and pubescent leaves; hollow and glabrous stem; terminal paniculate inflorescence and star shaped fruits and each part has a characteristic odor with a bitter taste. Anatomy of D. albus revealed some diagnostic characteristics- irregular shaped epidermal cells and unicellular trichomes in leaves; hexagonal pith cells containing secretory cells in stem and cortex containing oil globules in root. The powder analysis showed peculiar features as—wavy epidermal cells, different trichomes, prismatic crystals, oil globules and lignified spiral and pitted vessels in leaf; prismatic calcium oxalate sheath and lignified spiral and pitted vessels in stem; cork cells and sieve elements in root; lignified spiral vessels, stomata, trichomes and secretary glands in flowers; stone cells, secretary glands, glandular trichomes, lignified spiral and pitted vessels, prismatic crystals in fruit. Also, the analysis of pharmacognostic parameters of different parts resulted in a valuable data to establish standards for the plant.The present study for the first time provides a complete pharmacognostic profile of D. albus, thereby, acting as a platform for correct identification, authentication and development of quality control parameters of the species. Unlike taxonomic identification, pharmacognostic studies includes those parameters and standards that prove helpful in identifying adulteration in powdered form also. Data obtained may be used a standard for future studies.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are highly thankful to the Department of Botany and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, for providing necessary research facilities. Mr. Lateef A. Peer, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, is gratefully acknowledged for helping during the crucial time of the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India

    Saduf Nissar, Neelofar Majid & Irshad A. Nawchoo

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, 190006, India

    Weekar Younus Raja & Zulfikar Ali Bhat

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  1. Saduf Nissar
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  2. Weekar Younus Raja
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  3. Neelofar Majid
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  4. Irshad A. Nawchoo
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  5. Zulfikar Ali Bhat
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Correspondence to Saduf Nissar.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors

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Saduf Nissar has no conflict of interest. Weekar Younus Raja has no conflict of interest. Neelofar Majid has no conflict of interest. Irshad A. Nawchoo has no conflict of interest. Zulfikar Ali Bhat has no conflict of interest.

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Nissar, S., Raja, W.Y., Majid, N. et al. Pharmacognostic characterization and development of quality control standards for Dictamnus albus: a comparative study of different parts. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) 22, 401–414 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00559-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00559-6

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