Pharmacognostic evaluation of toona ciliata bark.

Pharmacognostic standardizations of powdered and anatomical sections of the Toona ciliata bark was carried out to determine its macro- and microscopical characters and also some of its quantitative standards. Externally bark are Grey to reddish-brown in colour when it is dry, 200 mm in length, 20 to 60 mm in width and 2 to 3 mm in thickness outer surface brown coloured, strong odour, bitter taste, rough and hard, double quill and curved curvature. The transverse section (T. S.) revealed the presences of periderm, cortex, Sclerides, mednllary rays and phloem fiber. Physico-chemical evaluation includes ash values, extractive values and moisture content. These findings will be useful towards establishing pharmacognostic standards on identification, purity, quality and classification of the plant, which is gaining relevance in plant drug research.

INTRODUCTION

Toona ciliata is a large deciduous tree with a spreading crown, commonly attaining a height of 20-30 m and a girth of 1.8-3 m. Barks dark grey or reddish-brown, smooth up to middle age, afterwards rough, with shallow reticulate cracks exfoliating in irregular woody scales. Blaze 1.3-1.5 m, fibrous throughout, pink or pinkish-brown, sometimes with just a few white bands towards the outside, turning brown on exposure, bitter to the taste, juice turning purple on the blade of a knife. Leaves are 30-50 cm long, on young trees up to 90 cm long, usually imparipinnate, sometimes paripinnate by the abortion of the terminal leaflet; leaflets 11-29, opposite or alternate, 5-15 × 2-6 cm, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, pubescent, margin entire or wavy, base oblique; petiolules 0.3-1.3 cm long. Flowers small, honey scented, cream coloured, in drooping or sub-erect terminal panicles, usually shorter than the leaves. Calyx divided nearly to the base. Petals 5 mm long, ovate-oblong, sub-acute, with ciliate margins. Capsule dark brown, 1.8-2.5 × 0.5-0.8 cm, oblong, usually smooth outside, sometimes sparsely lenticellate. Seeds pale brown, very light, winged at both ends, 1.3-1.5 cm long including the wing. The synonymous name ‘cedrela’ is from the Latin ‘cedrus’, the cedar, the name given on account of its scented wood. Native range : Tropical America, but common in many tropical regions as a weed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection and Authentication

The bark of Toona ciliata is belonging to the family Meliaceae were collected and authenticated from Dr. Harish Botanist. Alva's education foundation (R). Alva's Health center complex Moobdidri--574227. D. K. The bark was then dried, powdered and stored in airtight containers for further use.

Pharmacognostic Standardization

Morphological studies were done the shape, color, taste and odor of bask were determined. Microscopic studies were done by preparing thin hand section of bark. The section was cleared with chloral hydrate solution, stained with phloroglucinol -hydrochloric acid (1:1) and mounted in glycerin.

Physico-chemical evaluations

Total ash, water-soluble ash, acid-insoluble ash and sulphated ash were determined. Alcohol and water-soluble extractive values were determined to find out the amount of water and alcohol soluble components. The moisture content was also been determined[9].

Premilnary Phytochemical Screening:

The coarse powder of bark of Toona ciliata (25 g) was subjected to successive extraction with different solvent in their increasing order of polarity from petroleum ether (60-80°), chloroform, ethanol and water. The extract were concentrated and subjected to various chemical tests to detect the presence of different phyto constituents[11].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Macrocscopy

Externally bark are grey to reddish-brown in colour when it is dry, 200 mm in length, 20 to 60 mm in width and 2 to 3 mm in thickness outer surface brown coloured, strong odour, Bitter taste, rough and hard, double quill and Curved curvature. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1

Bark of Toona ciliata

Microscopy (Transverse section)

The microscopy revealed the presences of periderm, cortex, Sclerides, medullary rays and phloem fiber.

The TS of bark was stained with phloroglucinol and hydrochloric acid, the surface shows the general arrangements of the periderm, cortex and secondary phloem. In the Periderm Cork (Several layer of thin walled, flat, polygonal cells with reddish brown content, impregnatd with suberin.) Phellogen (2 to 3 layers of thin walled cells without any cellular content) Phelloderm (6 to 3 layers of thin walled rectangular cells without any cellular content) Cortex (Scattered U-shaped stone cells, isolated or in groups) Sclerides (Sclerenchymatous cells, pitted inner andradial walls more thick) Medullary rays (Narrow at inner side, wider in the scleride band side, acicular raphides) Phloem fiber (Single, isolated, circular, lignified with stratification) (Fig. 2). Powder characters of Toona is cork cells are seen in surface view, stone cells are present in cortex, Phloem fibers are observed in the powder, Pieces of Mecinllaip rays are also seen (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2

T.S. of Toona ciliata bark

Fig. 3

Powder characters of Toona ciliata.

(40×) (A) Pieces of cork cells (B) Stone cells (C) Medullary rays

Table 1

Physicochemical parameters of Toona ciliate

Table 2

Percentage Yield of successive solvent extraction

Table 3

Phyto constituents of different extracts of Toona ciliata