Abstract

COMPARATIVE PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF MORINDA TINCTORIA (ROXB.) LEAF EXTRACT COLLECTED AT DIFFERENT SEASONS

Jayachandran T. P. and Prof. Dr. Jyoti Harindran*

Abstract

Morinda tinctoria (Roxb.) (Fam: Rubiaceae) is a medicinally important plant being used in different indigenous systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani.[1] Extract of its leaves, stems and fruits are used in the treatment of gastropathy, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, stomach ulcer, wounds, gout, inflammation, hernia, and fever. Its comparative pharmacognostic and phytochemical study based on seasonal variation has not been explored fully so far. In this study a detailed pharmcognostic and phytochemical investigation of the crude extracts of the leaf (collected at winter and summer) were executed using standard methods. In quantitative analysis the active constituents like flavanoids, steroids, tannins, phenols, alkaloids showed significant variation in winter and summer season. The glycosides are absent in summer season. As these active metabolites are associated with antiviral, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, psycho-pharmacological, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties, they are widely used in treatment of various diseases.[2][3][4] Thus, the potential of the plant as a source of the active metabolites is self-explanatory.

Keywords: Morinda tinctoria, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemicals, Metabolites, Indigenous medicine.