Detailed Pharmacognostical Standardisation and Phytochemical Analysis of Whole Plant of Tephrosia barber — An Endemic Novel Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Background: Tephrosia barberi J. R. Drumm. is a perennial herb belonging to the Fabaceae family. Aim: The present research work is focused on carrying out the pharmacognostic standardisation and primary phytochemical analysis of the whole plant of T. barberi. Methods: The morphology, microscopy, powder microscopy, quantitative analysis of leaf constants, fluorescence analysis and physio-chemical parameters were included in the pharmacognostical work for the whole plant followed WHO prescribed quality control methods. The primary phytochemical analysis is carried out for powder with different solvent extracts using standard procedure. Results: The study reveals that the microscopical character of the whole plant of T. barberi includes the presence of cork, phloem fibres, xylem vessels, starch grains, tracheids, unicellular warty trichomes, anamocytic type of stomata and prismatic type calcium oxalate crystal sheath. The total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash value, sulphated ash, and loss on drying were quantified as physiochemical parameters, which were observed by 3%, 1%, 2%, 5% and 8%, respectively, using T. barberi dry powder. Under daylight, long and short UV, extracts of the whole plant and with various reagents were seen as various fluorescent reflection shades, which showed satisfactory results. Additionally, the primary phytochemical analysis of different extracts of T. barberi showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroidal glycosides, polyphenols and terpenoids. Conclusion: All these findings ensured that the whole plant profile for T. barberi could be accomplished, which may provide proper identification and probable to minimise the adulteration of other plant species. Furthermore, the primary phytochemical screening study would be useful to carry out the isolation of phytoconstituents and their therapeutic potency in future.