Pharmacognostic Studies on Tradescantia Zebrina

Gouri Kumar Dash (Prof. Dr. Gouri Kumar Dash, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak, No.3 Jalan Greentown, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone] Cell: (6010)5491614 E mail: gkdash2@g)
Mohamad Nur Aiman Fadrul (Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak, 30450 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Fax: [phone])
Allan Mathews (Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Quest International University Perak, 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Tel: [phone] (Mobile) Fax: [phone])

Journal of Global Pharma Technology
Volume 10 Issue 09: (2018) September 2018

Tradescantia zebrina Heynh. ex Bosse (Family- Commelinaceae), is an important medicinal plant with several traditional medicinal uses. In Malaysia, the plant is recommended to be a remedy to improve kidney function. In the present paper, we report some pharmacognostic studies on the leaves since there are no standard parameters available for this plant in the literature. Presence of typical epidermis with multiple hypodermis layers, few chloroplasts scattered in the spongy parenchyma and red color in most parts of the upper and lower epidermis are some of the key features for the identification of the species. Preliminary phytochemical screening of leaves showed presence of sterols, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, and proteins and amino acids respectively. The above findings together with physicochemical parameters can be useful in establishing pharmacognostic standards for the plant.