<em>Mazus pumilus</em> (Burm. f.) Steenis; Pharmacognosy

Abstract

<em>Mazus pumilus</em> (Burm. f.) Steenis, is a well-known traditional medicinal plant belonging to family Mazaceae. The research work is about the pharmacognostic standardization of <em>M. pumilus </em> which includes; macroscopic features and microscopic evaluation of leaf, stem and roots. TS of leaf, stem and root showed the arrangement of the different cells. Histochemistry of TS of leaf, stem and root gave distinctive results with conc. HCl, phloroglucinol, ferric chloride, iodine solution and Sudan III which indicated the presence of Ca⁺² oxalate crystals, lignin, tannins, starch and oil cells, respectively. Powder study of leaf depicted the presence of fibres, epidermal cells, resinous matter and vessels. The powdered study of stem showed collenchyma, vessels, fibers, cortex cells with tracheids, and helical vessels. While, root powder contained pithed vessels, cork cells, parenchyma and phelloderm. The quantitative analysis of TS of leaf was also performed for the establishment of leaf constants. In fluorescence analysis of herb, different colors were observed under ordinary light, short and high wavelength UV light. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of whole herb confirmed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins and tannins. All these results will help in identification, confirmation and quality characterization besides, laying down the pharmacopoeial standards for <em>M. pumilus</em>.