EVALUATION OF PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON BLEPHARIS REPENS (VAHL) ROTH
Blepharis repens (Vahl) Roth (Acanthaceae) is native to South-eastern Asia. This plant species has been of interest to researchers because it is a medicinal plant employed in the Indian indigenous system of medicine. Pharmacognostic standardization, physicochemical evaluation of the Whole plant of Blepharis repens (Vahl) Roth was carried out to determine its macro-and micro-scopical characters and also some of its quantitative standards. Microscopical studies were done by using trinocular microscope. Total ash, water-soluble ash, acid-insoluble ash and sulphated ash values, alcohol- and water-soluble extractive values were determined for phytochemical evaluations. Preliminary phytochemical screening was also done to detect different phytoconstituents. Microscopically, root showed collenchyma, secondary phloem, secondary xylem, periderm cells. Powder microscopy showed crystal fibres, parenchyma cells, vessels elements, and with thick pits. Total ash was approximately two times and four times more than acid insoluble and water soluble ash, respectively. Ethanol soluble extractive was approximately two times higher than water soluble extractive. Phytochemically, Whole plant exhibited alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides, fixed oils, tannins and saponins.