PHARMACOGNOSTIC STANDARDISATION OF POLYSCIAS SCUTELLARIA (SHIELD ARALIA)

Evangeline Joan Arockiadoss*, Dr. Mohideen Sulaiman and Dr. Sakthi Priyadarsini Sethuraman

ABSTRACT

Standardization was carried out based on a complete botanical evaluation of the leaves, which included morphology and microscopy, as well as WHO-recommended physicochemical testing. The standardization results may shed an immense amount of information on the botanical identity of the leaves of Polyscias scutellaria. The plant also known as ‘Shield Aralia’, is traditionally practiced in treating breast discomfort, wound healing, urinary tract issues, and body odour. The aim of the study involves the pharmacognostical investigation of Polyscias scutellaria thereby reporting the macroscopical and microscopical characters, quantitative microscopy, histochemical, powder microscopy, and physicochemical characteristics. The investigation results outline the morphological traits required for effective plant identification. The powder microscopical characters revealed the presence of epidermal fragments, collenchyma cells, vessels, simple pits, spiral and reticulate thickenings, micro sphenoidal and cluster crystals. The histochemical profile of different parts of the leaves showed the localization of cutin, mucilage, alkaloids, cluster crystals, starch, oil globules, lignin, and tannins in different parts of the tissue system. Studying the composition and properties of crude drugs exhibits knowledge of their physical and chemical characteristics, and this can be obtained through physiochemical analysis. Thus the results of our study document the detailed pharmacognostical profile of Polyscias scutellaria and in turn essential for correct identification and standardization of crude drugs.

Keywords: Araliaceae, Ethnobotanical, Mangkokan, Polyscias scutellaria, Pharmacognostical study, Shield Aralia.