Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of eight crude extracts used in complementary and alternative system of medicine

Abstract

The current study focuses the pharmacognostic evaluation of Arnica montana, Cicuta virosa, Digitalis purpurea, Sambucus nigra, Thuja occidentalis, Urtica urens, Arctostaphylos uvaursi and Apis mellifera. Microscopic and histological examination, color reaction tests; thin-layer chromatography and fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy were carried out on crude extracts. Microscopic and histological examination exhibited the presence and absence of different cells or tissues (diagnostic characters). The presence of carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and tri-terpenes were detected in crude extracts of under studied plants and insect. In thin-layer chromatography (TLC) the presence of different chemical compounds were observed, their Rf values were calculated. Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of major functional groups in each extract. Each plant material was also observed under microscope and all major diagnostic characters were recorded.