Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies of Mollugo nudicaulis Lam.: A controversial plant origin ayurvedic drug

Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. of Molluginaceae is an important medicinal plant widely distributed throughout India, Pakistan and tropical Africa. The whole plant is used in the preparation of an Ayurvedic drugParpataka, which is controversial, as a good number of plants are used as Parpataka in different regions of India. The present communication deals to authenticate the species of M. nudicaulis through macroscopical, microscopical, preliminary phytochemical, physicochemical, fluorescence, and HPTLC studies. Microscopical studies of the root revealed the presence of 4 to 5 layered cortex with parenchyma cells. The xylem observed in tetrarch condition with no growth rings. The fibres are narrow and vessel elements noticed with short tails. The leaf was characterized with well differentiated mesophyll into palisade and spongy parenchyma cells. The vascular bundle was single, conjoint, collateral and top shaped. The calcium oxalate crystals were noticed abundantly in the mesophyll and druses in spongy mesophyll. The stomata were noticed as anomocytic type. Physicochemical values were recorded as; total ash (1.094 %), water-soluble ash (1.46 %), alkalinity of water soluble ash (0.328 ml) and acid insoluble ash (1.64%). The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the existence of steroids, tannins, phenols, anthraquinones, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins and quinones in two solvent systems. The screenings of HPTLC showed the occurrence of noteworthy phytoconstituents with Rf values. The pharmacognostical screening of M. nudicaulis is very beneficial for the comparison, authentication of the original drug and to maintain the quality and purity of the plant material used in various Ayurvedic formulations.