Pharmacognostic Analysis of Michelia champaca Bark, Scoparia dulcis Whole Plant, Ziziphus mauritiana Leaves

Abstract

Plants are used as medicine to maintain human health and are major natural sources of medicinal compounds. The
initial step for documenting quality of the herbal material is authentication which may be followed by developing
standard numerical values for assessment. Michelia champaca Linn. (Family-Magnoliaceae) commonly known as
champaca, consists of 12 genera and 220 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, traditionally used to treat diabetes,
fever, colic, leprosy. Scoparia dulcis is ubiquitous weed seen in areas at low to medium altitudes along roadsides,
and other more or less shaded and moist places. Ziziphus mauritiana is believed to have originated in IndoMalaysian region. The leaves are alternate, ovate or oblong elliptic with rounded apex, with 3 depressed longitudinal
veins at the base. The present study aims at Pharmacognostical standardization of Michelia Champaca bark,
Scoparia dulcis whole plant, Ziziphus mauritina leaves that would be useful in preparing suitable monographs which
help in the proper identification of the plants as well as in detecting adulteration and substitution. The present study
has provided detailed description of the Pharmacognostic and physicochemical features of Michelia Champaca bark,
Scoparia dulcis whole plant, Ziziphus mauritina leaves, clearly giving distinguishing characteristics, which are
useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopeial parameters