Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical screening of Cassytha filiformis

Cassytha filiformis is a parasitic plant belonging to the family lauraceae. It is widely distributed in India, South Africa and Malaya. In India it is used for relief of ulcer, veneral discharge, haemorrhoids, cough and tonic. Vasorelaxing activity, cytotoxic effect and diuretic activity of Cassytha filiformis has been reported. Many phytoconstituents has been isolated from cassytha filiformis like aporphine alkaloid, oxo-aporphine alkaloidm, cassythaformine, filiformine, cathaformine, lignan, actinodophine etc. From literature survey it is revealed that there are no reports regarding the standardisation parameter for checking the identity and purity of Cassytha filiformis. So in present study standardisation of Cassytha filiformis is done on the basis of morphological evaluation, physicochemical parameter like loss on drying, ash value, extractive value, preliminary phytochemical screening. Thus these standardisation parameters will be helpful for identification of this endangering plant.