Pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening of leaf extract of Zanthoxylum armatum DC.

Abstract

Zanthoxylum armatum DC belongs to family Rutaceae is a sub deciduous aromatic shrub or small tree up to 5 m high. Bark pale brown rough croky; leave alternate imparipinnate, flowers small pale yellow and bisexual. Tender shoots are eaten as vegetable, suitable with pork and considered a good vegetable by Mishings. It is presumed that cooking with pork deworms, specially tap worms, by this vegetable. The Photomicrographic evaluation revealed interesting microscopic characteristic. The transverse section of the midrib showed schizolysogenous cavity which is a characteristic of family Rutaceae. Double layer of palisade and presence of sclerenchyma around vascular bundle is distinct identification characteristic. Also add to this is the presence of rosette shaped calcium oxalate crystals and prismatic crystals which are clearly visible in the parenchyma around vascular bundle. The leaves have anisocytic stomata which are surrounded by 4-6 straight walled subsidiary cells. Phytochemical Screening of Aqueous and Ethanolic extract of leaf ofZanthoxylum armatum DC showed the presence of Alkaloid, Glycoside, Carbohydrate, tennins, Amino Acids, Sterols and Terpenoids. The loss on drying of the powder of Z. armatum was found to be 0.15%. Theash value of powder of Z. armatum DC leaf was determine as total ash, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash was found to be 10.27%, 6.53% and 12.5% respectively. The Extractive Value of Z. armatum was found to be 14.66% and 10.33% in Ethanolic and Aqueous extract.