Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Screening ofAllium sativumLinn. Leaf

Abstract

Aim: Allium sativum L. is a cultivated medicinal plant known as Rasona in Ayurveda. In Asian countries, leaves of Lasuna are widely used in food recipes and as remedy for cough, asthma, malarial fever, facial paralysis, cardiac disease, etc. It is reported to have high medicinal as well as nutritional value. Therefore, it is felt necessary to study the macroscopy, microscopy, histochemical, physicochemical, and thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) parameters of leaf which are not reported earlier.Materials and methods: Collected plant specimen was identified, authenticated, and preserved in the herbarium section of the Institute. Shade dried leaves were made into powder. Macroscopic, microscopic, and physicochemical parameters were performed as per the standard procedures described in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). Fluorescence analysis, behavior of powdered drug with different chemical reagent, was performed as per the procedures given in the World Health Organization document/guidelines.Results: Organoleptic analysis showed that leaf powder is light yellowish green in color with pungent odor having acrid taste. Microscopic study revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata on both surfaces. The TLC of methanolic extract corresponds to gallic acid and quercetin standards. Conclusion:The findings would be useful for identification and standardization of leaf drug and would add the parameters in the API.