Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF VERNONIA CINEREA (L.) LEAVES - AN ANTISMOKING PLANT

Mangesh Dagawal* and D. Tarekar

Abstract

Vernonia cinerea (L.) (Asteraceae) is annual herb commonly called as sahadevi. It is one of the ten herbs that constitute the group of a reputed ayurvedic medicine “Daspuspa”. It is used as folk medicine by the people of Nepal and is also used in smoking cessation, cough fever, urinary calculi. Vernonia cinerea is extensively used in indigenous medicines as stomachic and for cold, asthma and bronchitis. Anatomically leaf is characterized by anemocytic stomata, simple as well as irregular T-shaped glandular trichomes. Present investigation showed the presence of alkaloids, Phenolics, flavononol, flavones, flavonone and polyoses in leaf. Leaves were extracted with Petroleum ether, chloroform, Acetone, Methanol and distilled water. TLC fingerprinting of all extracts was done for drug characterization. Fluorescence analysis of powder was done and shows distinct colour variation.

Keywords: Vernonia cinerea (L.), Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, TLC fingerprinting.