Harisha CR

In Ayurvedic texts the description of ‘Apathyanimittaja Prameha’ which is generally seen in obese individuals have a clear cut resemblance with type-2 diabetes and physicians believe in treating diabetes with herbal dietary supplements among which Quassia amara Linn. is a small indigenous tree native of Suriname. Detailed investigation of Transverse section including its powder of heartwood of Quassia amara Linn. was carried out. Preliminary organoleptic features and results of powder microscopy reveals presence of tannin and large amount of fibres. The information generated by this particular study will provide relevant pharmacognostical and physiochemical data needed for proper identification and authentication of heartwood of this particular species.

Herbal drug market is becoming more and more competitive day by day. Dashamoola is important group of ten plants whose roots are used for variety of purposes. Patala is one of the plants from this Dashamoola group. Its commonly accepted botanical source is Stereospermum suaveolens (Roxb.)DC. Stereospermum suaveolens (Roxb.)DC is identified as NT (Near threatened) species thus there is need to evaluate substitute for it to increase the source plants.1 Radermachera xylocarpa (Roxb.) K. Schum. can be used as substitute for Stereospermum suaveolens (Roxb.)DC.2 Free hand selections and organoleptic examination was done of all samples, microscopic characters, ash values, LOD, extractive values, Tannin content & other phyto-chemical analysis. Transverse section of both the samples show presence of stone cells, micro-crystals of ca-oxalate, simple and compound starch grains, brown content (Tannin). Phytochemical study reveals presence of a wide range of phytoconstituents like Glycosides, Steroids, alkaloids, Tannins and Flavonoids in both extracts. The quantitative estimation of Tannin in S. suaveolens root bark is 2.511%w/w and R.xylocarpa root bark 9.207 %w/w.