Journal of Harmonized Research in Pharmacy

DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY STANDARDS OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS LEAVES

Abstract

Author(s): Om Prakash Agrawal*, Girendra Gautam

Phyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae) is an important plant of Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine which is used in the problems of stomach, genitourinary system, liver, kidney and spleen. Morphological examination showed that leaves are long, palmate shaped and dark green in color. The leaves powder had characteristic odor and taste. Transverse section of leaves showed upper and lower epidermis with covering and glandular trichomes and midrib showed arc shaped vascular bundle. Successive extractive value was highest (23.606%) in case of aqueous extract. Mean ash values (%) were 23.04 (total), 6.48 (acid insoluble) and 12.69 (water soluble). Loss on drying was 5.9107%. Resin content was found 1.33%. Phytochemical screening of leaves powder showed the presence of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, steroids, tannin, resin and acidic compounds. Further work is needed to isolate, characterize and quantify active constituents present in the leaves of Phyllanthus amarus by sophisticated techniques. Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus, HPTLC, Pharmacognostical standardization.