Pharmacognostic studies of Ageratum conynzoides L.

Abstract

Ageratum conynzoides L. is annual herb belonging to family Asteraceae. Locally it is known as ‘Osadi’ and is used traditionally in folk medicine. It grows in a range of habitat from dry and arid to wet conditions; accordingly colour of flowers and compactness of capitula varies. As an auspicious symbol paste of flower with saffron is put on forehead (‘tilak’) as mark of success. Traditionally leaves are used on boils, wounds, leprosy, skin diseases and also as bacteriocide. In central Africa it is used to treat pneumonia. Anatomically the leaf is characterized by anomocytic stomata, dorsiventral mesophyll and simple as well as glandular trichomes. Present investigation shows presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, flavone, phenolics, saponins and polyoses. Leaves were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, methanol and distilled water. TLC fingerprinting of all extracts was done for drug characterization.