Preliminary phytochemical and pharmacognostical evaluation of Carissa spinarum leaves

Carissa spinarum Linn. is one of the medicinal plants. It has many medicinal uses such as to treat rheumatism, purgative etc. The present study has been carried out pharmacognostical and physico-chemical evaluations of its leaves. Preliminary Phytochemical investigations also have been carried out. Diagnostic pharmacognostic feature of Carissa spinarum leaves closed collateral vascular bundle, anomocytic stomata, covering and glandular trichomes, calcium oxalate crystal and prism are found. Physiochemical observation of leaves revealed total ash 14%, acid insoluble ash 5.3%, water insoluble ash 6.6%, sulphated ash 10.3%, water soluble extractive value 15.62% alcohol soluble extractive value 4.56%, chloroform soluble extractive value 4.3%, loss on drying 3.52%. Phytochemical screening of various extract of C. spinarum leaves revealed that phytoconstituents are alkaloids, tannin, glycoside, steroids and carbohydrates are present in plant.