Pharmacognostical Evaluation of Ipomoea staphylina Linn

Ipomoea staphylina Linn. (Convolvulaceae) is used in the treatment of purgation, stomach disorders, pain, inflammation, and also in rheumatism. Only a very limited research has been carried out on the plant. The present paper highlights the macroscopic and microscopic characters of leaf, stem, petiole, physico-chemical evaluation, powder analysis, histochemical studies and preliminary phytochemical studies of the aerial parts of the plant. These observations would be of immense value in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in crude form. This study would help to distinguish the drug from its other species.