Development of Physico-Chemical Parameters for Indigenous Drug, Bharangi: Clerodendrum serratum and Premna herbacea

Abstract

Objective: To develop physico-chemical parameters for indigenous drugs Clerodendrum serratum and Premna herbacea commonly known as Bharangi. Materials and Methods: Roots of C. serratum and P. herbacea were studied for macro and microscopical characters. HPTLC method was developed to generate fingerprint profiles for the two roots and to quantify β-sitosterol (in P. herbacea root) using n-hexane: ethyl formate (7:3) as a mobile phase, precoated TLC plates (silica gel 60 F₂₅₄) as a stationary phase and H₂SO₂ as derivatizing agent. Further, presence of sugar, D-mannitol in Clerodendrum serratum was confirmed with the use of paper chromatography. Results: Roots of C. serratum are hard, woody, tortuous, earthy brown and bear rootlets. Stratified cork, cortex, phloem and wood, all filled with starch are characteristic features of transverse section of C. serratum root. Roots of P. herbacea are brown or earthy brown, woody, shows swollen nodes and exfoliated surface exposing the inner orange colored tissue. T.S. of the root shows cork with yellowish orange content, cortex constituted of collenchymatous parenchyma, phloem and wood portion. Presence of starch grains and stone cells in powdered root of C. serratum differentiate it from that of P. herbacea. β-sitosterol (0.012% w/w) was found to be present in the root P. herbacea only. Sugar D-mannitol was present in Clerodendrum serratum only. Conclusion: The present study provides the first report regarding comparative study and identification parameters for C. serratum and P. herbacea. Further, we report presence of β-sitosterol in P. herbacea root and HPTLC method to develop distinct chemo-profile for both the roots.