Pharmacognostical characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of Acacia pennata (L.) Willd. leaves: A Southeast Asian medicinal plant

Abstract

Pre-defined analytical features of a plant are used as a reference to aid in accurate identification, proper standardization, and quality control. However, no systematic work on the leaves of A. pennata is available for reference to check its authenticity, purity, and quality. Therefore, the study was aimed to develop pharmacognostic parameters using standard guidelines. The work provides macroscopic, qualitative and quantitative microscopic, physicochemical parameters, chromatographic fingerprint profile, and in-vitro antioxidant activity of A. pennata. Preliminary phytochemical screening and thin-layer chromatography hints the presence of steroids and glycosides along with polyphenolic compounds viz. phenols and flavonoids. Quantification of polyphenolic phytoconstituents and assessment of in-vitro antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract was done. The current communication offers referential knowledge on the analytical and diagnostic features for accurate taxonomical identification, proper characterization and will also help in the establishment of a pharmacognostic monograph of A. pennata for effective quality control.

Micromorphological evaluation of Daphne mucronata Royle and Myrtus communis L. using scanning electron microscopic techniques

“…Macroscopic features of the selected parts of the D. mucronata (Royle) and M. communis L. were given in (Tables 1–4 and Figure 2). These features justify the need to fill up any possible information gap for an appropriate and systematic development of analytical and characteristic features of any crude drug (Zothantluanga et al, 2020). Many scientists carried out the organoleptic evaluation of medicinal plants.…”

Ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry-based review on the antimalarial potential of Acacia pennata (L.) Willd.

“…pennata is traditionally used for many health ailments ( Figure 3) and had been investigated for a handful of pharmacological activities (Figure 4). 15,17 Though the scientific evidence on the antimalarial activity of A. pennata is still not available, the phytochemical profile of A. pennata might provide some theoretical evidence that supports the traditional claim. The different classes of bioactive compounds present in A. pennata were identified to be alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, phytosterols, terpenoids and saponins.…”

“…The different classes of bioactive compounds present in A. pennata were identified to be alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, phytosterols, terpenoids and saponins. 15,17,18 Alkaloids are biologically active nitrogencontaining compounds that are found in plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. Alkaloids exhibit various pharmacological activities such as sympathomimetic, anticholinergic, antiulcer, antiviral, antidepressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, diuretic, antitumor, antimicrobial and antihypertensive.…”

“…20-22,24-26, 28-30,32-34,36,37,40-42,44-46 Auspiciously, all these classes of bioactive compounds are present in A. pennata. 15,17,18 Moreover, it is worthy to re-state that A. pennata still lacks scientific evidence for antimalarial activity. Therefore, the extracts and fractions obtained from A. pennata may be investigated for their activity against malarial parasites using suitable pre-clinical techniques.…”

“…quinine (alkaloid) and artemisinin (terpenoid) are examples of bioactive compounds that had been isolated from Cinchona officinalis and Artemesia annua respectively. [50][51][52][53] Thus, although A. pennata was reported to contain alkaloids and terpenoids, 17,18 quinine and artemisinin were never reported to be isolated from A. pennata. Still, the possibility of A. pennata as having its antimalarial phytochemicals cannot be completely ruled out.…”