Pharmacognostic, Physicochemical Standardization and Phytochemical Analysis of leaves of Hydrolea zeylanica Vahl. (Hydrophyllaceae).

The most important aspect of Pharmacognosy is to evaluate the quality and purity of crude drugs by means of various parameters. For the quality and purity of medicinal plants, pharmacognostic, physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies of the leaves of Hydrolea zeylanica Vahl, family Hydrophyllaceae. were carried out. The macroscopic and microscopic assessment revealed characters that are of diagnostic value and useful in authentication of the plant. The Physicochemical analyses reveals values for moisture content, water soluble extractive, alcohol soluble extractive and total ash which are within the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for crude drug from medicinal plants. Phytochemical studies for secondary metabolites revealed the presence of Glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, carbohydrate, sterols, flavonoids and alkaloids are present in the extracts Information obtained from these studies can be used as markers in the standardization and identification of this plant as a herbal remedy and also towards monograph development on the plant.