INTRODUCTION:

Herbal medicines consists of plants or its parts such as root, stem, bark, leaves, flower, fruit and seeds etc. for the prevention and treatment of various ailments and hence promotion of health over the millennia. Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to the mankind.^1-3 WHO estimates that approx.

80% of the world population presently use herbal medicines for their primary healthcare needs.⁴

Herbal medicine is a major module in traditional system of medicine and a common component of ayurvedic, unani, homeopathic and other alternative system of medicines.⁵ However a key obstacle, which has hindered the acceptance of the alternative medicine is the lack of scientific documentation of these medicines. Thus it becomes extremely important to make an effort towards the standardization of all the plant materials to be used as a medicine. The process of standardization can be achieved by morpho-anatomical and physico-chemical studies of the plant material to ensure reproducible quality of herbal medicine which will contribute to its safety and efficacy.⁶ Astragalus hamosus L. is one of the most important medicinal plant used traditionally for various health needs.

Astragalus hamosus L which is commonly known as Ikleel-ul-malik in Arabic, Katila or Purtuk in Hindi and Nakhunah in Urdu belong to the family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae is a 30-40cm high annual herb found in the plains of Punjab. It is distributed in Orient, Mediterranean and Canaries. It is also cultivated in Afghanistan, Balochistan and Sindh.^7-11 Ethnobotanical and scientific literature review reveals that the plant is aphrodisiac, galactogogue, emmenagogue, maturant, pectoral, antiperiodic, diuretic, stomachic and wound healer.^8,9,11 In classical unani literature, being hot and dry in first degree^11-15 the pods of the plant are described to possess anti-inflammatory agent to cure various inflammatory disorders.¹⁶ It is used in the form of decoction to resolve the inflammation of liver, spleen, uterus and ovaries. The paste of the pods is massaged and applied externally on inflammatory areas and to relieve headache^2,7. The pods are also used in the preparations of a number of unani formulations such as zimad-e-kibreet, zimad-e-sumbul-ut-teeb, zimad-e-waram-e-unsayain muzmin, zimad-e-waram-e-unsayain muzmin, qairooti-e-arad-e-baqla, qairooti-e-babuna wali, qaiqooti-e-mamool, habb-e-mohallil and roghan-e-naf-e-warm-e-niqras.¹⁷ Owing to its therapeutic importance, the present study was undertaken on the pods of Astragalus hamosus L. with an objective to establish its morpho-anatomical and physic-chemical parameters so that authentic plant material could be explored for its therapeutic claim.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

PLANT MATERIAL:

The drug material (pods) was purchased from the local market, New Delhi. After proper identification and authentication the voucher specimen was preserved in the botany section of the lab (DSRU, New Delhi) for future reference.

MORPHO-ANATOMICAL EVALUATION:

Pods were taken for morphological and anatomical studies (Fig.1). Various organoleptic and morphological characters of the pods like colour, shape, size, odour and taste etc. were studied. For anatomical studies free hand transverse section were prepared using a razor blade and stained as per standard and well established methods. ^18,19 The powder microscopy was performed according to the standard method.¹⁸ Photomicrography of all the sections in different magnifications were taken by the microscope with computer attachment.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS:

Shade dried plant material was used for quantitative determination of physico-chemical parameters such as foreign matter, loss of drying, total ash and acid insoluble ash. Extractive values were determined according to well established official methods and recommended procedures.^19-21

QUALITY CONTROL ANALYSIS:

The microbial load estimation was carried out as per the guidelines. Heavy metal analysis was done by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Analysis of aflatoxins was performed by TLC method. Pesticide residues were analyzed using GC-MS Agilent instrument equipped with mass selective detector as per the methods of AOAC²²

RESULT:

Fig. A: Astragalus hamosus L.

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES:

Pods dry, cream to light brown, 2.5cm to 3 cm in length and 3mm to 4mm in width, terete, semilunar, glabrous, sessile, bilocular, 16-18 seeded; seeds reniform, dark brown to black, 3mm-4mm in diameter, odourless with mucilaginous taste. (Fig. A)

ANATOMICAL STUDIES:

T.S. of fruit shows single layered, tangentially elongated, thick walled epidermal cells covered by cuticle. Abundant unicellular trichomes with distinct warted walls are present on it. Mesocarp consists of 2-3 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells. Numerous vascular bundles are embedded in this region. The endocarp is sclereified consisting of several rows of thick walled sclerenchyma cells differentiating into two distinct layers. The one located next to the mesocarp consists of cellulosic fibers in tangential rows and the other consists of vertically oriented fibers. (Fig. 1-3)

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 1 T. S. of fruit (x40) ; Fig. 2 T. S. of fruit showing trichomes (x40); Fig. 3 T. S. of fruit showing vascular bundle in the mesocarpic region

POWDER STUDIES:

Colour : Light brown

Odour : Odourless

Taste : Mucilagenous

On examination under the microscope it shows following characteristics: (Fig. 4-9)

· Abundant trichomes, found either scatterd or attached to the fragment of the epicarp. Trichomes are simple, unbranched, unicellular, unseptate, tick walled with distinctly warted walls and acute apex. Their size vary from 126µ - 360µ x 18µ - 36µ. Few trichomes are very enlarged i.e. upto 702µ.

· Fragment of epicarp in surface view, composed of moderately thick walled, polygonal cells. Numerous trichomes are attached to it.

· Parenchyma cells of the mesocarp.

· Numerous fibers that are simple, unbranched, unseptate, thick walled with narrow lumen havinh width 11.2µ - 18µ, present mostly in groups.

· Pieces of vessels with annular and spiral thickenings having width 9µ - 13.5µ.

· Group of parenchyma cells of the cotyledon filled with minute starch grains.

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9

Fig. 4 Trichomes in powder (x40); Fig. 5 Epicarp in surface view (x40); Fig. 6 Parenchyma cells of the mesocarp in powder; Fig. 7 Parenchyma cells of the cotyledon filled with starch grains; Fig. 8 Vascular elements in powder; Fig. 9 Group of fibers in powders

The results observed for the physico-chemical data, TLC studies, microbial load, aflatoxins, pesticideLesidues and heavy metals are shown in Table 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

Table I: Physicochemical Studies

Parameters	Values
Foreign matter	Not more than 2%
Alcohol Soluble matter (%)	Not more than 8.92%
Water Soluble matter (%)	Not less than 33.34%
Total ash (%)	Not more than 10.50%
Acid Insoluble ash (%)	Not more than 4.30%
Loss in wt. on drying at 105^OC (%)	Not more than 9.63%
pH of 1% aqueous solution	6.41
pH of 10% aqueous solution	5.74

Table II: TLC Studies Result

The result of TLC behaviour of Ethanolic extract is shown in table II

Solvant System

Spray/Reagent Treatment

No. of Spots

Rf Values

Toulene; Ethyl Acetate 8: 2

5% Ethanolic Sulphuric Acid

0.35

0.45

0.52

0.77

Table III: Microbial Load Studies

S. No.	Parameter Analysed	Result	Permissible Limits as per WHO
1.	Total Microbial load	Nil	Not more than 10⁵/g
2.	Salmonella spp	Nil	Nil
3.	Escherichia coli	Nil	Nil
4.	Total Fungal count	Nil	Not more than 10³/g

Table IV: Aflatoxin Studies

S. No.	Parameter Analysed	Result	Permissible Limits as per WHO
1.	B1	Nil	Not more than 0.50 ppb
2.	B2	Nil	Not more than 0.10 ppb
3.	G1	Nil	Not more than 0.50 ppb
4.	G2	Nil	Not more than 0.10 ppb

Table V: Pesticidel Residue Studies

S. No.	Parameter Analyzed	Result	Permissible Limits as per WHO
1.	DDT	Nil	Not more than 1.00mg/kg
2.	Endosulfan	Nil	Not more than 3.00mg/kg

Table Vi: Heavy Metal Studies

S. No.	Parameter Analysed	Result	Permissible Limits as per WHO
1.	Lead	Nil	Not more than 10 ppm
2.	Cadmium	Nil	Not more than 3.0 ppm
3.	Arsenic	Nil	Not more than 3.0 ppm
4.	Mercury	Nil	Not more than 1.0 ppm

DISCUSSION:

The present morpho-anatomical studies of the herbal drug Ikleel-ul-malik will serve to become a ready reference for its quick identification. Various physico chemical parameters along with Rf values of the TLC profile will be helpful in establishing the standards of the drug and further isolation of important compounds in future. Besides absence of microbial load contamination, heavy metal analysis, aflatoxins contamination, pesticide residue justifies the quality of this efficacious drug for the global market.

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Received on 20.12.2023 Modified on 18.01.2024

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2024; 16(2):99-102.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2024.00019