Comparative phytochemical study of root versus small branches of Desmodium gangeticum using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic UV detection Method

Desmodium gangeticum belongs to family Leguminoceae. It is a versatile plant with many features and considerable prospective. Whole plant is employed as traditional medicine for the treatment of several disorders. D. gangeticum is a traditional Ayurvedic plant used for centuries as an anthelminthic, anti-catarrahal, diuretic, expectorant, astrin-gent, febrifuge, nervine tonic, anti diarrheal, bronchodilator, vasopressor, analgesic, antipyretic, cardio tonic, stimulant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Chromatographic fingerprint and similarity measurement could efficiently identify and distinguish between root and small branches of D. gangeticum. The phytochemical fingerprint profiling of root and small branches of D. gangeticum were found similar as an official part of D. gangeticum plant i.e. root, therefore small branches may be used in place of root and vice-versa after comparison and confirmation of same pharmacological activities.