Pharmacognostic standardization of chaetomorpha antennina and Ulva lactuca, green seaweeds from Gujarat coast

Abstract

Chaetomorpha antennina (Bory) Kutzing and Ulva lactuca Linnaeus are two green marine seaweeds (algae) belonging to the families cladophoraceae and Ulvaceae respectively. They are known for biological activities like antibacterial, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antifouling, etc. They ae rich in various secondary metabolites.Pharmacognostic, physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of plants are the identity of a particular plant and they are very useful to authenticate the plant under study and prevent it from adulteration and substitution. Hence, in the present study, macroscopic, microscopic, phytochemical and physicochemical parameters of both the algae were evaluated. All the standard procedures were followed. They were rich in phytoconstituents like alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides and saponins. The extractive values were maximum in methanol and minimum in petroleum ether in both the algae. The different salient diagnostic features established in this study will help for proper identification and standardization of crude drug in powder form. They may also be useful in preparation of monograph of them.