Main Article Content
Abstract
Pharmacognostic evaluation is the first and foremost step to determine identity and to assess the quality and purity of crude drug Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy belong to family Convolvulaceae, a perennial wild herb commonly found on sandy & rocky areas under xerophytic conditions in northern India. Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy is reputed drug of Ayurvedic formulation for improving memory power & intellect, chronic cough, sleeplessness, epilepsy, hallucination, anxiety and other central nervous system disease and disorders. The present study deals the pharmacognostic evaluation including taxonomy, morphology, microscopic characters, fluorescence analysis, physico-chemical studies, phytochemical studies and chromatographic analysis. The transverse section of root, stem and leaves were performed. Physico-chemical studies showed the values of foreign matter, moisture content, total ash, sugar and extracts in different solvents. The preliminary phytochemical screening of whole plant drug are recorded for different chemical groups like alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, resins, tannins and steroids etc. Although, preliminary attempt to evaluate drug by some other researchers but to provide some additional parameters which may useful for authentication of Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy. The result of the standardization may throw immense light on the botanical identification of Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy which may furnish a basis of judging the authenticity of the plant and also to differentiate the drug from its allied species and adulterants.