The use of plant-based drugs has increased considerably in the modern world for their efficiency in managing diseases with lesser side effects than synthetic drugs. The current study was aimed to confirm the identity, quality and purity of some locally available potential medicinal plants such as Alstonia scholaris (bark), Centella asiatica (whole plant), Drymaria cordata (whole plant), Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (whole plant), Oroxylum indicum (bark), Senna hirsuta (leaf), Senna occidentalis (leaf), Solanum indicum (root), Stephania japonica (tuber) in powdered form. The powdered plant parts were evaluated for preliminary phytochemicals, pharmacognostical studies, physical characteristics and heavy metals. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the different extracts inferred the existence of carbohydrates, phenolics, alkaloids and amino acids while triterpenoids were absent. Microscopical study of the powder revealed the diagnostic qualities such as stone cells, trichomes, stomata, calcium oxalate crystal, fibres, xylem vessel, pitted spiral vessels, etc. The colour, odour, flavour/taste and texture of the pulverized plant were overall acceptable. The physical characteristics which determine the flow rate of the powder with respect to Carr’s index and Hausner’s ratio were found to be good to passable except for Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (whole plant), Oroxylum indicum (bark), which were not easily passable. The heavy metal test showed the absence of bismuth, cadmium and lead. Thus the present study may serve as a standard reference for the quality control analysis of the herbal drug either singly or in synergy.

In recent years, mankind has relied largely on herbal medicines to treat a variety of ailments. The aim of the current study is to investigate the pharmacognostic and physicochemical characterisation of some medicinal plants such as Bambusa balcooa (leaf) (BBL), Phyllanthus emblica (fruit) (PEF), Hodgsonia heteroclita (fruit pulp) (HHP), and Punica granatum (fruit peel) (PGP) used by the local Bodo tribe for the treatment of diabetes, which can be combined together to develop a novel polyherbal formulation. The preliminary phytochemical screening, microscopic evaluation, organoleptic and flow properties and qualitative heavy metal estimation was carried out usimng standard protocols. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the existence of carbohydrates, phenolics, alkaloids in all. However, amino acids were present in P. granatum and P. emblica, whereas triterpenoids were inferred in P. officinalis. Microscopical analysis of crude showed the presence of stone cells (BBL, HHP and PGP), xylem (PEF, HHP and PGP), trichome (PGP), fibres (all) and epidermis (PEF). The macroscopical study of crushed powder was overall acceptable to sense organs. The physical evaluation of flow properties was found to be good for P. emblica fruit when compared to others which was fair to passable. The heavy metal test showed the absence of bismuth, cadmium and lead in all species. Accordingly, the results obtained from the study is endowed with essential information for the authentication and quality assessment of these herbal drugs.

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