Pharmacognostical And Phdytochemical Comparison of Roots of

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Pharmacognostical And Phdytochemical Comparison of Roots of Solanum
Species Used in Ayurvedic Formulations
Article · September 2013
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International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2012; 4(1);28-37
ISSN: 0975-4873
Pharmacognostical And Phdytochemical Comparison of Roots of
Solanum Species Used in Ayurvedic Formulations
*Jayanthy A. Sulaiman C.T. and Rema Shree A. B.
Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala,
Kottakkal, Malappuram. Pin 676 503
ABSTRACT
Pharmacognostical studies play an important role in the identification of the genuine plant of various Ayurvedic raw
drugs. Adulteration/substitution exists for many ayurvedic raw drugs due to the non-availability of genuine herbs in
required quantities and controversy in the selection of source plants. Solanum species are involved in ayurvedic
preparations as the members of laghupanchamula group of plants. Present paper deals with the comparison of the roots
of most commonly used species of Solanum by studying the micro-morphological, anatomical, physicochemical
characters and chemical comparison by TLC and HPLC studies.
INTRODUCTION
In Ayurvedic texts, some drugs are mentioned by their
collective names. Laghupanchamula is such a compound
drug composed of roots of five well known herbs. This
drug is often used as such and also included in many
compound formulations as an ingredient. In classical
texts, there are specific Sanskrit names given for the
ingredients of laghupanchamula. As per Ayurvedic
Pharmacopoeia of India, the officially accepted
ingredients of laghupanchamula and their source plants,
are Salaparni (Desmodium gangeticum), Prsniparni
(Uraria picta), Brhati (Solanum indicum), Kantakari
(Solanum surrattense) and Gokshura (Tribulus
terrestris) 1 . But in some texts instead of kantakari and
bhrihati, a pair of brhati (brhatidvayam) is mentioned as
the ingredients of laghupanchamula. In Kerala these
plants have been equated with a small fruited variety of
brinjal called cheruvazhuthina (S. melongina var.
insanum) and a white fruited variety called velvazhuthina
(S. incanum) respectively 2 . Most of the authors equated
the drug Brhati with Solanum indicum 3,4,5,6,7 . Brhati is
used as an ingredient in more than 68 Ayurvedic
formulations. The identity of the source plant for the drug
Brhati is controversial. From the synonyms (dusparsa,
kantala, pitaphala etc.) given in the classical texts one
can only infer it is a prickly plant with yellow fruits and
this synonyms are applicable to many species of
Solanum. Hence different authors have equated the drug
with different species of Solanum. According to
ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India Brhati should be the
dried roots of Solanum indicum Linn. of Solanaceae.
Roots of S. torvum Swartz., another common plant in the
wild is also sold in some markets as brhati 8 . In practice,
one variety, S. incanum is commonly available as
substitute for the plant S. melongina var. insanum which
is accepted by the Kerala physicians as the 2 nd ingredient
of brhatidvayam So a total of five species of Solanum are
in use in ayurvedic formulations. This paper deals with
the pharmacognostical and phytochemical evaluation of
the roots of five species of Solanum.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant materials: Roots of the plants for the study were
collected from Herb Gardens of Arya Vaidya Sala,
Kottakkal. Material processing and slide preparation were
carried out as per the Indian Pharmacopoieal standard
methods 1 . All the materials for anatomical study were
fixed in Formaldehyde-Acetic acid-Alcohol (FAA)
mixture. Hand sections and microtome sections were
taken and histological and histochemical staining was
carried out as per standard methods 10 . The sections were
stained with safranine and fast green for general studies
and Sudan black for oil, iodine for starch, Ferric chloride
for tannin and KOH for antraquinone etc. Maceration was
carried out by Jaffery’s method 9 . Measurements were
taken using micrometer scale in the microscope and the
data were subjected to statistical analysis.
Photomicrographs were taken using ‘Canon Photospot G3
camera, attached to the Ziess microscope.
Phytochemical studies: Roots were shade dried and
coarsely powdered. 5gm of powdered roots were
extracted with methanol. The extracts were filtered,
concentrated and made up to 10 ml. these solutions were
used for TLC and HPLC profiling.
Thin layer Chromatography: TLC analysis of the
methanolic extract of the roots of the three species was
done on pre-coated silica gel 60F 254 plates (E. Merck) of
uniform thickness of 0.2 mm. using the solvent system
Chloroform: Methanol (9: 1). The solvents used were Gr
quality (E. Merck). The developed plate was derivatised
using A-S reagent. Rf value of major bands were
determined.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography: The shimadzu
HPLC system (Kyoto, Japan) consisting of LC-10ATVP
pump, a rheodine injector, SPD M10AVP photodiode
array detector in combination with CLASS VP 6.12SP5
Corresponding Author: jayanthiathikkal@yahoo.com

Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
ash and acid insoluble ash of the roots of S. indicum, S.
torvum, S. surrattense, S. melongina var. insanum and S.
incanum were estimated and quantitative determination of
total phenolics, and flavonoids were also carried out
according to the standard procedures 11 .
Plate 1.A-J. Habit and roots of five Solanum species. A&B.
S. indicum, C&D. S. torvum, E&F. S.surrattense, G&H. S.
Melongina var. insanum, I&J. S. incanum
integration software. The mobile phase used for the
separation was HPLC grade methanol (A) and acetonitrile
(B) in the ratio of 6:4 by binary gradient method. The
column used was C18 –ODS (Octadecylsilane).
Lichrospher RP 18 e (5μm) (Merck) with a (Phenomenex,
4mm x 2.0mm i.d:). The samples filtered were using 0.45
μm PVDF membrane and injected using a 20 μl
loop(Rheodyne Rohnet Park, CA, USA). The flow rate
was maintained 0.8ml/min and detection were done at
254nm Determination of quantitative data:
Physicochemical parameters such as water soluble
extractive, alcohol soluble extractive, percentage of total
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Macroscopic Characters: The roots of S. indicum are stout
strait divaricately branched with long cylindrical rootlets.
External surface rough, with yellowish brown in colour
with small round warty protuberances. Root bark
separates easily from the root exposing a longitudinally
striated surface of yellowish white colour. Fracture
difficult and short. Odour slightly pungent; taste bitter.
Roots of S. torvum are well developed with thick, stout,
woody, branched tap root and many strong cylindrical
lateral roots. The outer surface is earthy brown, and
yellowish internally. The outer surface is longitudinally
shriveled with occasional fissures and lenticels. Fracture
short, odour pleasant and taste sweet with bitter later.
Root of S. surrattense is 10-45 cm long, few mm to two
cm in diameter, almost cylindrical and tapering, bearing a
number of fine longitudinal and few transverse wrinkles
with occasional scars or a few lenticels and small rootlets,
transversely smoothened surface shows a thin bark and
wide compact cylinder of wood, fracture, short, taste,
bitter.
The roots of S. melongina var. insanum are some what
thinner cylindrical and less tortuous. The outer surface
smooth, reddish brown in colour with boat shaped
lenticels; fracture short; odour slightly spicy, taste bitter.
Roots of S. incanum are thick slightly tortuous,
cylindrical, outer surface reddish brown
in colour, smooth and with lenticels, tap root and its
branches are with many wiry root lets. Fracture outer
short, inner splintery, taste bitter smell characteristics.
Microscopic characters: S. indicum :TS of root is more or
less circular in outline. It shows the outer most thin
yellowish brown cork consisting of 7-10 rows of
tangentially elongated thin walled cells. Walls of the
outermost layers are slightly brownish in colour. Inner to
the cork is the cortex which is comparative a wide zone.
Cortical cells are tangentially elongated, narrow and thick
walled. All most all the cells are fully packed with starch
grains. Most of the cortical cells contain the characteristic
black powdery mass, the sandy crystals. Solitary or
groups of stone cells are scattered in the cortical region.
The phloem tissue followed by the cortex is narrow and
composed of cubical to polygonal thin walled cells.
Groups of fibres are seen in this region. Some of the cells
of this region also contain the sandy crystals. Inner to the
phloem is the cambium composed of 1 or 2 rows of cells.
Medullary rays are many uni or biseriate, extend up to the
cortex and the cells at the distal end of the medullary rays
are tangentially elongated. All most all the cells are fully
filled with starch grains and a few of them contain the
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Table 1. Distinguishing anatomical characters of five Solanum species
Name of the
species
Characters
observed
S. indicum S. torvum S. surrattense
S. melongina
var. insanum
S. incanum
Nature
root
of
Divaricately
branched
slightly tortuous
Tap roots and
lateral roots
woody and
stout
Thin,
short
tortuous
roots
wiry,
and
tap
Tap roots
strong and
woody with a
few lateral roots
Strong, woody
and straight.
Nature
cork
of
Cork cells are
tangentially
elongated and
rectangular
Cork cells are
rectangular
Cork cells are
tangentially
elongated and
rectangular
Cork cells are
rectangular
Cork cells are
rectangular
Nature
cortex
of
Cortical cells
are tangentially
elongated and
thick walled
Thin walled
large polygonal
or rectangular
cells with
intercellular
spaces
Thin walled
tangentially
elongated to
oval or circular
cells
Tangentially
elongated, large
thin walled cell
with rounded
corners.
Thin walled
tangentially
elongated cells
with intercellular
spaces
Nature
stone cells
of
Comparatively
more in number,
small in cross
sectional view
and elongated
and narrow in
LS with a size
of 206.67±23.3
length, 32.5±6.9
wide and
12.1±1.9 wall
thickness.
(Plate 2. P)
Large with
thick walls and
wide lumen;
located
towards the
inner periphery
of the cortex.
In LS it is oval
or rounded
with a size of
204.6±31.3
length,
84.29±21.44
wide and
13.21±3.7 wall
thickness
(Plate 2. Q)
Stone a few
and in single or
in groups of 2-
3. Cells are oval
in LS with a
size of
120.32±23.3
length,
15.25±30.5
wide and
12.75±3.5 wall
thickness.
(Plate 2. R)
Moderate sized.
Walls thin with
wide luman;
number of
groups less in
number with 3-
5 cells in each
group.
In LS the cells
are slightly
tangentially
elongated with
a size of
158.75±39.4
wide and
09.50±2.4
(Plate 2. S)
Comparatively
large with thin
walls and wide
lumen. Cells are
angular in LS
with a size of
143.75±29.8
length,
76.88±35.3wide
and 10.63±2.4
wall thickness.
(Plate 2. T)
Nature
vessels
of
Comparatively
narrow with a
width of
54.08±6.34µm
Largest xylem
vessels with a
width of
127.54±16.49
µm
Comparatively
wide vessels
with a width of
105.23±12.8
µm
Narrow Xylem
vessels with
width a of
48.62±8.9 µm
Moderately wide
with a width of
69.84±11.99 µm
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Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
Table 2. Dimensions (µm) of xylem vessels and fibers of Solanum sps.
Name of species Vessels Fibers
Length Width Wall
Length Width Wall thickness
thickness
S. indicum
311.12 54.08
625.30 19.43
5.13±0.54
±34.42 ±6.34
±10.96 ±1.41
2.7±0.22
S. torvum
373.94 127.54
856.94 24.95
4.77±0.79
±24.67 ±16.49
±39.74 ±1.72
2.71±0.21
S. surrattense
339.23 105.23
728.67 26.83
4.14±1.2
±60.2 ±12.8
±71.7 ±2.7
3±0.63
S. melongina var.
insanum
S. incanum
270.67
±64.20
248.83±
14.05
48.62
±8.9
69.84
±11.99
7.13±0.62
6.10±0.48
630.20
±32.65
597.76
±34.81
17.04
±1.77
16.89
±1.23
2.7±0.22
2.83±0.50
Table 3. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of root powder of five Solanum species
Total phenolic S. indicum S. torvum S. surrattense S. melongina S. incanum
and flavonoids
var insanum
Total phenolic 51mg Ega/g 95.6mg Ega/g 91.3mg Ega/g 24.8mg Ega/g 18mg Ega/g
content
Total flavonoids 0.255mgEq 0.172mgEq 0.821mgEq 1.2mgEq 0.44mgEq
filled with starch grains. The phloem constitutes a very
narrow zone with small polygonal cells. Most of the
phloem parenchyma cells contain black powdery masses
Table 4. Quatitative data of root powder of S. indicum, S. torvum, S. surrattense, S. melongina var. insanum, and
S. incanum
Physico-chemical
parameters
Values %
S. indicum S. torvum S.
surrattense
S. melongina
var. insanum
S. incanum
13.563 13.134 21.22 12.52 7.229
Water soluble extractive
(w/v)
Alcohol soluble
7.097 8.071 22,28 9.30 5.602
extractive (w/v)
Total ash (w/w) 5.48 4.12 7.7 2.12 4.98
Acid insoluble ash (w/w)
0.85 0.97 1.15 0.90 0.89
Foreign matter nil nil nil nil nil
black powdery mass. The wood composed of vessels,
parenchyma, fibres and medullary rays. Vessels are many
with wide lumen and are arranged scattered solitary or in
groups of two. Medullary rays in the xylem region are uni
or biseriate, cells thick walled radially elongated and fully
filled with starch grains.
S. torvum: Cork consists of 8-10 rows of thin walled
rectangular cells. Outer 3-4 layers of cells are with
reddish brown walls. Phellogen composed of 1-2 rows of
rectangular cells. Cortex comparatively wide and
composed of thin walled large polygonal or rectangular
cells with inter cellular spaces. Some of the cells contain
black powdery mass of sandy crystals. Stone cells are
scattered through out the cortex. Stone cells towards the
periphery of the cortex large in size and with thicker
walls while towards the interior the stone cells are smaller
in size and in groups of 3-4. Most of the cortical cells are
of sandy crystals. Wood is composed of vessels tracheids,
xylem fibres and parenchyma. Wood consists of a large
number of vessels with wide lumen and are scattered
solitary or in groups of 2-3 in radial rows. Some of the
parenchyma cells contain small starch grains. Medullary
rays are uni and biseriate and most of them extends up to
the cortex. The ray cells in the wood region are thick
walled, radially elongated and fully filled with starch
grains. Medullary rays in the phloem region are also unibi
seriate and composed of thin walled cells and filled
with starch. The cells at the distal end are tangentially
elongated.
S. surrattense: TS of mature root shows cork composing
of 3-6 layers of thin-walled, rectangular and tangentially
elongated cells, cork cambium single layered. Secondary
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Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
Fig. 1. TLC profile of methanol
extract of 1. S. indicum; 2. S.
torvum; 3. S. surattense; S.
melongina var. insanum 5. S.
incanum(UV 254 nm)
Fig.2. TLC profile of methanol
extract of 1. S. indicum; 2. S.
torvum; 3. S. surattense; 4. S.
melongina var. insanum 5. S.
incanum(UV 366 nm)
Fig. 3. TLC profile of methanol
extract of 1. S. indicum; 2. S. torvum;
3. S. surattense; 4. S. melongina var.
insanum
5. S. incanum Derivatised with AS
reagent
Table 5: R f values and colour of the band of five Solanum species
R f values
S. melongina
(After derivatised S. indicum S. torvum S. surrattense
var. insanum
with AS)
S. incanum
0.17 Violet Violet Violet Violet Violet
0.31 Very pale violet - - - -
0.35 Pale violet Violet Violet Violet Pale violet
0.38 Pale violet Pale violet Pale violet
0.42 - Pale violet - Pale violet -
0.47 Pale gray Dark gray Dark gray Dark gray Dark gray
0.55 Pale violet Pale violet Pale violet
0.65 Violet Pink Pink Pink Pink
0.70 - - Pale pink Pale pink Pale pink
0.82 - Pale gray Gray Gray Pale gray
0.88 Pink - - Pink
(under 366 nm)
0.13 - - Red - -
0.15 - - - Blue -
0.21 - - Red - -
0.27 - - Red - -
0.30 - - - Blue -
0.36 - - Red - -
0.39 - - Red - -
0.42 - - Red - -
0.47 Pale blue Blue Pale blue Pale blue Blue
0.77 Green Pale green Green Green Green
0.84 - - Red - -
cortex composed of 6-15 layers of thin-walled,
tangentially elongated to oval or circular parenchymatous
cells, stone cells either single or in groups of 2-20 or even
more present in this region, secondary phloem composed
of sieve elements and phloem parenchyma traversed by
medullary rays, stone cells present in singles or in groups
of 2-20 or more in outer, and middle phloem regions,
phloem rays 1-4 seriate, cambium 3-5 layered of thinwalled
rectangular cells, xylem composed of vessels,
tracheids, fibres and parenchyma. Medullary rays are 1-3
seriate, Vessels and tracheids with bordered pits, fibres
with a few simple pits, xylem parenchyama rectangular
with simple pits and rarely with reticulate thickening,
xylem rays microsphenoidal crystals of calcium oxalate
as sandy masses are present in many of the cells of
cortex, phloem parenchyma nd medullary ray cells. Most
of the cortical cells and medullary ray cells are heavily
packed with simple starch grains
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JPPR March-May 2012, Vol.4, Issue 1 (28-37)

2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Detector A-286 nm
solanum indicum
solanum indicum
-200
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Minutes
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
-250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Minutes
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
Detector A-286 nm
solanum T
solanum T
-250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Minutes
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
Detector A-286 nm
solanum M
solanum M
-250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Minutes
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Detector A-286 nm
solanum xan02
solanum xan02
Detector A-286 nm
solanum viaram
solanum viaram
-200
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Minutes
Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
Retention Time
0.245
0.448
0.704
0.896
1.141
2.304
6.219
5.600
6.965
8.501
9.227
9.952
mAU
4.576
10.773
11.221
13.163
14.016
14.795
15.339
16.448
17.899
19.093
19.403
19.595
19.893
20.203
21.621
22.517
23.157
23.755
24.363
24.747
25.333
25.760 25.867
26.325
26.699
27.221
27.605
28.587
28.981
29.429
30.144
30.592
31.947
33.109
33.536
33.984
34.517
35.264
35.445
37.504
Fig.4. HPLC Chromatogram of S. indicum root
Retention Time
0.224 0.331
0.555 0.661
0.864 0.971 1.131 1.280 1.461
1.749 1.899
2.229 2.400
3.051
9.280
12.544
13.888
15.371
15.797
17.280
18.560
21.248
23.541
25.024
25.536
26.421
26.731
27.723
28.171
28.619
29.280
mAU
5.728
30.133
31.061
31.819
32.181
32.533
33.067
33.472
33.760
34.389
34.635
35.371
8.640
6.688
10.379
7.456
Fig.5. HPLC Chromatogram of S. torvum root
Retention Time
0.885
1.099
2.421
2.613
6.517
7.008
8.107
8.565
8.939
9.749
10.507
10.880
12.192
5.088
12.875
14.133
14.645
15.264
15.787
16.277
17.323
18.507
18.997
19.808
20.149
20.715
21.525
22.037
22.805
23.435
24.021
24.437
25.195
25.739
26.389
26.795
27.136
28.000
28.384
29.280
30.069
30.827
31.488
31.840
32.203
32.608
33.099
33.643
34.027
34.635
34.923
35.157
37.184
5.621
mAU
Fig.6. HPLC Chromatogram of S. melongina var. insanum root
Retention Time
0.469
0.683
0.864
1.109 1.205
1.621
1.941
2.123
2.485 2.592
2.933
3.243
3.648
7.029
9.579
10.187
10.517
12.128
12.715
13.333
13.675
14.016
14.496
15.061
15.595
5.717
23.989
25.643
26.389
27.083
mAU
6.581
7.936
11.371
Fig.7. HPLC Chromatogram of S. surrattense root
Retention Time
0.171
0.672
2.123
2.336
6.443
6.923
10.091
10.432
8.949
9.440
11.552
12.192
13.941
14.923
15.872
16.949
17.547
18.357
19.573
19.893
20.608
20.960
21.792
mAU
5.163
22.571
23.029
24.043
24.395
25.109
25.387
25.696
26.325
27.083
27.456
28.224
29.056
29.803
30.848
31.275
31.616
31.979
32.139
32.544
33.141
33.557
33.941
34.208
34.549
34.837
8.245
8.427
5.525
Fig.8. HPLC Chromatogram of S. incanum root
S. melongina var. insanum: Cork composed of 6-10 rows
of thin walled rectangular cells. Phellogen consisting of
narrow thin walled cells. Cortex comprises almost half of
the thickness of the entire bark. The cells are fairly large
and tangentially elongated with rounded corners most of
the cells are loaded with starch grains. Some of the cells
contain the characteristic black powdery mass the sandy
crystals. Well defined group of thick walled stone cells
are scattered within the cortex. The size and shape of the
stone cells varies in each group. The size of the cortical
cells are gradually decreases towards the inside. Phloem
region is comparatively narrow and cells are very small,
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Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
thin walled and rounded or polygonal. Some of them
contain black sandy crystals. Wood consists of many
narrow vessels and occur in radial groups of two or three.
Medullary rays are mostly one or biseriate. They are
mostly straight but its distal ends do not widen or expand
in the cortex. The ray cells are thin in the phloem region
radially elongated and packed with starch grains. In the
wood region the ray cells are thick walled more radially
elongated and contain large starch grains.
S. incanum: TS of root is circular in out line with an outer
most zone of cork which is composed of 8-10 layers of
tangentially elongated and rectangular cells. Secondary
cortex composed of 8-10 rows of thin walled oval and
tangentially elongated cells with inter cellular spaces.
Many of the cortical cells are with black powdery masses
of sandy crystals. Cortical cells become smaller in size
towards the interior. A few solitary or groups of 2-8 stone
cells are present in the middle and towards the inner
periphery of the cortex. Secondary cortex is followed by a
narrow zone of phloem which is composed of sieve tubes
and companion cells and parenchyma cells. Phloem
parenchyma cells are thick walled with pitting on their
walls. Phloem is traversed by 1-2 seriate medullary rays.
Medullary ray cells and almost all the phloem
parenchyma cells are fully loaded with starch grains.
Large cells with black powdery masses of sandy crystals
are seen in the phloem region. Xylem occupies the major
portion of the root and occurs just beneath the 1-2 layered
cambium. Xylem is composed of vessels, fibres and a few
parenchyma cells. Vessels are rounded solitary and in
tangial or rarely radial groups of 2-3. Xylem rays are unibi
seriate and composed of radially elongated cells.
Starch grains are seen in all the medullary ray cells and
xylem parenchyma.
Maceration studies: Maceration studies revealed that
roots of five Solanum species showed the presence of
cork cells in surface view, vessels both tailed and nontailed,
fibres, stone cells starch grains containing
rectangular parenchyma, long pitted axial parenchyma
with pitted walls. Vessels are of various sizes ie., narrow,
elongated and short, broad and tailed or non-tailed,
vessels showed bordered pitted thickening on their walls;
starch grains are of rounded, simple or compound. While
comparing all the roots S. torvum has the largest xylem
vessels and vessels of S. surrattense is the second largest.
Wall thickening is more in S. melongina var. insanum in
which narrow vessels are seen. S. torvum shows longest
fibres where as S. surrattense showed shortest fibres
(Table 2). Stone cells are thick walled and elongated in S.
indicum while in all other species it is oval, rectangular or
rounded with various sizes and shapes (Plate 2 R-T).
Preliminary phytochemical screening: Preliminary
phytochemical screening revealed the presence of
phenolic compounds and flavonoids. From the study it is
revealed that total phenolic contents are very high in S.
torvum (95.6 mg Ega/g) and total flavonoids are high in
S. melongina var. insanum (1.2mgEq).
Physico-chemical parameters: Physico-chemical
parameters such as water soluble extractives, alcohol
soluble extractive, total ash content and acid insoluble ash
were determined. The ash value of the drug gives an idea
of inorganic compounds and other impurities present. The
percentage of water soluble extractive, alcohole soluble
extractive and total ash content was high in S. surrattense
and they are 21.22% , 22,28% and 7.7% respectively.
Acid insoluble ash was maximum in S. torvum (0.97%)
(Table 4).
Chemical studies: The characteristic fingerprint of the
thin layer chromatograph can be used as identification
parameters. The characteristic spots obtained in the
comparative TLC profiles have been shown in Figure (1-
3). R f values of the prominent bands were determined
(Table - 5). In the TLC profile all the samples exhibited
close resemblance due to the presence of similar bands in
all the species. Significant variations were also noticed by
the presence of additional bands in S. surrattense and S.
melongina var. insanum. (Fig. 8-10). This indicated that
the methanolic extract of roots of all the five species have
some identical chemical constituents.
In HPLC comparison common peak is seen at the RT 5.6
with a variation in the area percentage which is 5.11% in
S. indicum 31.147% in S. torvum, 15.247% in S.
surrattense, 9.260% in S. melongina var. insanum and
8.516% in S. incanum. S. surrattense and S. torvum
showed almost similar peaks having a major peaks at the
TR-5.7. Similarly S. melongina var. insanum and S.
khasinum shows similarity in their peaks. But S. indicum
stands apart as a different plant with it major peak at RT-
4.57 and area percentage 35.4%. the profile of S.
surrattense showed different peaks from all the other
species (Fig.4-8). These support the fact that Brihati
should be S. indicum and cannot be substituted with other
species of Solanum. Similarly S. surrattense cannot be
substituted with the so called velvazhuthina ( S. incanum)
or cheruvazhuthina (S. melongina var. insanum) and S.
surrattense should be the ingredients in
Laghupanchamula. Because as per Ayurvedic
pharmacopoeia of India and classical texts Brihati and
Kantakari are the two ingredients in laghupanchamula.
Pharmacognostical studies on S. indicum and S.
surrattense have been reported earlier 1,10,11,14 . Anatomy of
S. torvum and its pharmacognosy have also been
reported 10 . The organographic study of vessels of some
members of Solanaceae has been carried 12 . Many of the
earlier workers have carried out the phytochemical
studies of S. indicum, S.torvum and S. surratense whole
plant 13 . Being members of Dasamula (root of ten plants)
group of plants, the study of root is very important and no
reports have been available on comparative study of roots
of these selected plants. In the present study it is realized
that the important chemical compound solasodine which
is specific to the Family Solanacea is not present in the
roots of the selected plants. In earlier studies where whole
plant is used in the TLC profile the band corresponding to
solasodine is visible at R f value 0.31. In the present study
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JPPR March-May 2012, Vol.4, Issue 1 (28-37)

Jayanthy A et.al./ Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical…
using the same test solutions and solvent system
(Chloroform : methnol 9:1) such a band having R f value
0.31 is not seen in the TLC profile. It shows that
solasodine is absent in root but it is present in the arial
part including fruits. Organographic study of vessels of
S. surattense was carried out, in which cylindrical, drum
like and fusiform shaped vessels were mentioned 12 . In the
present study same type of vessels were identified in S.
surrattense, but in other species drum like vessels were
not observed. In all other species selected for the study
vessels were with simple and bordered pits with simple
perforation plates. The vessels with three perforation
plate and single were observed in S. surattense which was
not reported earlier. No reports on pharmacognostical
studies on S. melongina var. insanum and S. incanum.
It is concluded that this work provide qualitative and
quantitative standards for the identification of five
Solanum species selected for the study. This will be
highly useful in determining the identity, quality and
purity of the genuine raw drug that in turn will result in
standard herbal preparation. From the chemical
comparison it is also concluded that It is also concluded
that Brihati should be S. indicum and cannot be
substituted with other species of Solanum. Similarly S.
surrattense cannot be substituted with the so called
velvazhuthina ( S. incanum) or cheruvazhuthina (S.
melongina var. insanum) and S. surrattense should be the
ingredients in Laghupanchamula. Because as per
Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India Brihati and Kantakari
are the two ingredients of laghupanchamula.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to Centre for Medicinal Plants
Research, Arya vaidya Sala, Kottakkal for providing
support to carry out the work. We are thankful to Dr.
Indira Balachamdran, Project Director CMPR, Arya
Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal for the necessary guidance.
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