Pharmacognostical evaluation of Indian folk-traditional plants<em> Coelogyne cristata and Pholidota articulata</em> used for healing fractures

Abstract

<em>Coelogyne cristata </em> Lindley (CC) and <em>Pholidota articulata </em> Lindley (PA) (Fam. Orchidaceae), locally known as 'hadjojen' (bone jointer) are the most effective traditional remedies for healing fractures in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Recent pharmacological investigations of crude extracts and isolated compounds from these plant species revealed rapid fracture healing properties and osteogenic potential. This paper provides macro and microscopic characteristic features, physicochemical properties and HPTLC profiles of both the species. Microscopic studies of leaf, pseudobulb and powdered materials showed collateral vascular bundles containing large number of mucilage cells, parenchymatous cells with pitted banded lignified or beaded with mesh-like network, septate and aseptate fibres, rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate and pitted parenchyma. Comparative HPTLC profile showed blue and pink florescent band at different Rf values with the distinct characteristic bands at Rf 0.31, 0.47 and 0.62 corresponding to the analytical marker compounds: ursolic acid, <img src='http://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/square.gif' border=0>-sitosterol and lupeol respectively in both CC and PA. Findings of this study can be used a standardized pharmacognostical markers of CC and PA for identification and authentication of their genuine herbal drug formulations as quality control markers.