Pharmacognostical studies and evaluation of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of traditionally utilized fruits of <i style="">Solanum torvum</i> Sw.

Abstract

The fruits of<i style=""> Solanum torvum </i>Sw., commonly known as Shoo-shoo bush, Devil’s fig, Wild egg, are pungent in taste, edible, used as a vegetable and are regarded as an essential ingredient in Thai cuisine. In Tripura and West Bengal fruits are crushed or cooked with dry fish (sidhol) and taken with warm rice to cure rheumatic pain. The fruit has been used ethnomedicinally as a tonic and haematopoietic, anti-microbial agent and for the treatment of pain. A decoction of fruits is given for<b style=""> </b>cough ailments and is considered as useful in liver<b style=""> </b>and spleen enlargement. The fruit has sedative, diuretic and<b style=""> </b>digestive in action. In view of the traditional and medicinal importance, the present study deals with<b style=""> </b>pharmacognostical evaluation of fruit including morphological and histological studies. Determination of physicochemical constants, fluorescence analysis and phytochemical profile including TLC fingerprint and estimation of total phenolic and flavonoid contents has also been done.