Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Evaluation of Leaf of Jatropha nana var. bengalense C.H. Rahaman and S. Mondal: An Endemic Member of Euphorbiaceae

Background: Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies helps to maintain the quality of herbal products and purity of crude drugs by means of standardized parameters which will lead to developing the safest and efficacious natural products. Objectives: This study was undertaken to carry out pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigation of the leaves of the Jatropha nana var. bengalense (Euphorbiaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant. Materials and Methods: Epidermal Micromorphology, physical and physicochemical constants like ash value determination and UV-fluorescence study have been employed for pharmacognostic evaluation. For qualitative phytochemistry, microchemical color reaction test and TLC studies performed. Variations in different biochemical parameters of leaves of different developmental stages have been examined and the obtained data statistically analyzed following standard methods. Results: Typical paracytic type of stomata is found in hypostomatic condition distributed in irregular-shaped epidermal cells. Index of these stomata was found 20.251%. Phytochemical analysis in qualitative and quantitative approaches has also been done to describe its chemical variability. Ash value was found above 8% which shows more than 50% solubility in acid whereas water and ethanol solubility is found to be just below and above the 30% respectively. In UV- fluorescence study very distinctive colour changes of the powdered leaf have been recorded. Alcoholic extracts have shown positive results for presence of most of the phytochemical groups. Quantitative phytochemical analysis confirms that a range of phytochemicals are present in good amount in the leaves of this medicinal plant which could vary in amount in different developmental states. Thin Layer Chromatography has been carried out on ethanolic extract in two different solvent systems which show 6 different Rf values further indicates the presence of important phytochemical derivatives. Conclusion: This study will finally be needful for standardization of identification of the genuine drug, its adulterants and of the chemical constituents present in the leaves and finally bioprospection.

Key words: Adulteration, Bioprospection, Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha nana var. bengalense, Pharmacognosy.