Pharmacognostic study and establishment of quality parameters of Garcinia xanthochymus (Gamboge)

Abstract

Garcinia xanthochymusHook. f. ex. T. Anderson (Clusiaceae) commonly known as gamboge, is a fruit yielding perennial medicinal plant native to South East Asia. It is used in treatment of various disorders by folk healers. The plant has been scientifically evaluated for various biological activities like antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic and nerve growth factor potentiating activity. The present investigation deals with morpho-anatomical evaluation and establishment of its quality parameters, including physicochemical and chromatographic profile of G. xanthochymus. Macroscopically, leaf is simple, petiolate, linear-oblong in shape with acute apex and cuneate base. The presence of paracytic stomata, arc shaped xylem in leaf, crescent shape bicollateral vascular bundle in petiole and arrangement of xylem in ring form in stem are some of the diagnostic features noted from anatomical study of the plant. Powder microscopy of leaf revealed the presence of palisade cells, sclerenchymatous fibres and vessels with annular and reticulate thickenings. Phytochemical screening mainly revealed the presence of carbohydrate, glycoside, favonoid and tannins. HPTLC finger printing of plant tried with solvent system toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (7:5:1) confirmed the presence of 06 spots with different Rf value under UV light 366λ