ABSTRACT

The World Health Organization has prescribed a number of parameters to be studied in relation to the inherent characteristics of plants that determine the quality of their products. In view of these prescribed parameters, some Herbal Pharmacopoeia standards for the aerial part of Laportea aestuans were determined.

The plant material was collected and identified. Pharmacognostic studies for the determination of some Pharmacopoeia standards for the aerial part of L. aestuans were carried out using standard procedures. In the Pharmacognostic studies, macroscopy of the leaf showed that the leaf is simple, ovate in shape, has dentate margin with net venation and petiolate. Microscopy showed the presence of wavy walled epidermal cells, anomocytic stomatal arrangement, unicellular trichomes and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals. Transverse section through the midrib showed dorsiventral arrangement. Chemo-microscopy showed the presence of lignin, cellulose, starch, mucilage and fatty oils. Phytochemical screening of the powdered material showed the presence of flavonoids, pseudo tannins, saponins and steroidal nucleus. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography revealed the presence of important phytoconstituents in the extracts of the plant material. The results of the quantitative parameters were as follows; Proximate analysis: moisture content (11.42%), total ash content (18.89%), crude fiber (15.17%), fat (6.59%), protein (22.16%) and carbohydrate (37.20%); Elemental contents: Cu (0.03 mg/kg), Fe (2.03 mg/kg), Mg (1.01 mg/kg), Na (6.07 mg/kg), K (247.03 mg/kg), Ca (42.93 mg/kg), Mn (0.02 mg/kg), Cr (0.02 mg/kg) and Zn (0.27 mg/kg); Foaming index: < 100; Swelling index: 4.5 mL/g and methanol soluble extractive value (15.52%). From this work, data have been provided pharmacognostically that will help in the correct identification of the plant, in other to avoid adulteration or contamination. These data/values could also be used in developing a monograph for the aerial part of the plant.