Establishment Of Pharmacognostic Standards And Physicochemical Parameters For Ruellia Prostrata Acanthaceae

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to establish comprehensive pharmacognostic standards and preliminary phytochemical profile of Ruellia prostrata Poiret to facilitate botanical authentication, quality control, and support its integration into evidence-based herbal medicine for treating inflammatory conditions and infections traditionally managed by this plant.

Methods: Fresh plant material collected from Hadapsar, Pune was authenticated (2024/SI/DD/0026). Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed using standard pharmacognostic techniques. Quantitative microscopy parameters including stomatal number, stomatal index, vein-islet number, vein termination number, and palisade ratio were determined. Physicochemical parameters (ash values, extractive values, moisture content, foaming index, swelling index) were analyzed following Indian Pharmacopoeia guidelines. Successive solvent extraction using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, and water was performed, followed by preliminary phytochemical screening using standard qualitative tests. Results: Macroscopic features revealed prostrate habit with pubescent ridged stems and purple bilabiate flowers. Microscopic examination showed dorsiventral leaf with single-layered palisade tissue and root with polyarch xylem containing oil glands and calcium oxalate crystals. Quantitative parameters showed stomatal number of 128.67±4.16 per mm² (abaxial) and 45.33±2.51 per mm² (adaxial), stomatal index of 18.72±1.23 (abaxial) and 12.45±0.89 (adaxial), and palisade ratio of 4.67±0.57. Physicochemical analysis revealed total ash 12.38±0.45%, water-soluble extractive 18.45±0.62%, alcohol-soluble extractive 14.72±0.58%, and moisture content 8.45±0.32%. Phytochemical screening confirmed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, steroids, glycosides, and saponins.

Conclusion: The established pharmacognostic parameters provide reliable reference standards for quality control, authentication, and adulteration detection in crude drug formulations, supporting future clinical development of standardized R. prostrata preparations for therapeutic applications.