PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES ON LEAF OF CHLOROXYLON SWIETENIA DC. AN ETHNOMEDICINALLY IMPORTANT MEDICINAL TREE

Sharanabasappa Melmari* and M. Jayaraj

Chloroxylon swietenia DC. belongs to the family Meliaceae is an important medicinal tree of dry deciduous forests with several medicinal uses in both folk and traditional system of medicine. Traditionally different parts of the plant are used in treating wounds, cuts, burns and skin diseases. Its pharmacognostic data for authentication of the leaf crude drug is available, but it is incomplete, hence, in the present study detailed macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies of leaf are undertaken. Powder microscopy revealed the presence of xylem vessels with spiral and reticulate thickenings, phloem fibers, raphide crystals and unicellular trichomes. Anatomical studies showed the presence of raphide crystals, collateral vascular bundle, resin ducts and anomocytic stomata. The qualitative chemical tests of petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and water extracts of leaf indicated the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, amino acids, phenolic compounds and tannins.