Investigation of Pharmacognostical and Physical Parameters of Gomphrena Globosa Flowers
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the microscopic characters, powder characteristics, behavior and fluorescence analysis, physiochemical evaluation, micrometric analysis and phytochemical exploration of Gomphrena globosa Flowers.
The flowers of Gomphrena globosa were authenticated and shade dried. Petals were separated and powder characteristics, behavior and fluorescence analysis (in daylight and in ultraviolet-light), physiochemical evaluation (loss of drying, moisture sorption capacity, swelling index, pH and ash constants), and micrometric analysis (Bulk density, Tapped Density, Angle of repose, Hausner's ratio and Carr's index) were carried out. Dried petal powder was then extracted with different solvents such as water, ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate and their extractive values were calculated, and phytochemical screening was performed on all the extracts. The characteristic macroscopic and microscopic features of Gomphrena globosa flowers include the presence of epidermal cells, scalariform xylem vessels, medullary rays, lignified fibers, oil globules, crystals of calcium oxalate, tracheids and uniseriate multicellular trichome. Powder showed characteristic fluorescent property when treated with different reagents. The physicochemical investigation revealed values for moisture content, pH, ash values and extractive values which are within the World Health Organisation standards for the crude drug from medicinal plants. Micromeritic analysis of petal powder reveals not so good flowability. Water and ethanol extractive values were found to be higher when compared to that of chloroform, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate. Preliminary Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids and sterols positive in all the extracts.
It can be concluded from the present study on the dried flowers of Gomphrena globosa the above pharmacognostical characteristics, physiochemical evaluation, micrometric analysis and phytochemical exploration, together may be utilized for the future studies on and might be useful to addition material about its documentation.
Keywords
Gomphrena globosa, Physicochemical evaluation, Fluorescence analysis, Phytochemical screening
