Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical studies on shoot of Calamus leptospadix Griff.- An ethnomedicinal plant of Assam

Abstract

Calamus leptospadix Griff. belonging to family Arecaceae, is an ethnomedicinal plant of Assam used by the folks of state for many medicinal properties like anthelmintic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic. Its vernacular names include Betgaj, Lejaibet, Bet, Bethas, Rattan palm,Cane, Tangtangma, Titipi, Jeyying and Ayyagoomi. Since there are no reports of systemic pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on the shoot, the present work was planned to study the detailed macroscopical, microscopical, quantitative standards, physicochemical and chromatographic characteristics of the shoot. Preliminary phytochemical investigation indicated the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, tannins and phenolic compounds. Fluorescent characteristics were analysed for the powdered crude drug and TLC profile was developed for petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extract of the shoot. Thus these conventional parameters would serve as a standard reference for identification, authentication and for distinguishing the plant from its adulterants.