INTRODUCTION:

One kind of cleome that is utilised as a green vegetable is Cleome gynandra. It is known by many common names including African spider flower, bastard mustard, cat’s whiskers [English], Nayi-velai, Kadugu [Tamil], Karaila [Hindi], Vaminta [Telugu], Narum Byalesoppusuryavarta [Kannada]^1-5. It is an annual wildflower native to Africa but has become widespread in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world, found in the Western Ghats, Dry Deciduous forests and also in plants of (Kerala, Tamil Nadu) India^6,7. It is an erect, branched plant that typically grows to a height of 25 to 60cm. Each of its few leaves is composed of three to five oval-shaped leaflets.

The flowers are white, sometimes changing to rose pink as they age. The seed is brown 1.5mm diameters sphere. The leaves and flowers are both edible. The leaves have a strongly bitter sometimes Peppery flavour similar to mustard greens, occasionally. Chemical constituents like Tannins, Saponins, Alkaloids, Steroids, Glycosides, Flavonoids and Phenolic compounds have been reported. It high in beta carotene, folic acid, and calcium.

The seeds contain fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid compounds have been reported. The present investigation was undertaken to study Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Studies on Traditional Drug of “Nalvelai” Cleome gynandra (capparaceae) respectively. In Ayurveda and other medical systems, Cleome gynandra linn (capparaceae) is used to treat neuralgia, headaches, coughs, wounds, anthelmintics, rubefacients, counterirritants, snake bites, and scorpion stings. The search for a new therapeutically devoid of adverse effect originating from plants used in traditional systems of medicine in India. Ayurveda and siddha is used for the treatment of various disease. In the present study made an effort to Pharmacognostical and studies.^1-9.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Plant Material:

Cleome gynandra linn specimen for the prepared study were collected from kadayamapatti village in erode district on august 2024 and positively identified and authenticated by Dr. M.U. Sharief, Scientist. F, botanical survey of India, Southern circle, Coimbatore (NO- BSI/ SRC/ 5/23/2024-25/Tech-369) a herbarium specimen of the plant was preserved in the department of pharmacognosy of our institute for further reference.

Pharmacognostical Studies:

1. Macroscopy: External feature of test sample was documented using Nikon D-5600 Digital camera.

2. Histochemical tests: Plant sections were treated following the standard procedures:

· Crystals: The section was mounted in water and one end of the cover slip was irrigated with acetic acid. While looking through the microscope, the water within the cover slip was replaced using a piece of filter paper at the opposite end of the cover slip

Formation of air bubbles indicated Calcium carbonate crystals-If no air bubbles were formed, the experiment was repeated with conc. HCl, wherein dissolution of crystal and formation of needles of Calcium sulphate indicated the presence of Calcium oxalate crystals

· Fats, Fatty oils volatile oils and resins: About1 to 2 drops of Sudan-IV was added to the section and allowed to stand for a few minutes. Presence of fatty oil substances were indicated by orange-red/pink/red colored globules; while red coloured irregular contents indicated resin.

· Starch: A drop of 2% iodine water solution was added - blue colour indicated starch.

· Phenolic compounds: A drop of alcoholic ferric chloride was added - bluish black-coloured contents indicated phenolic compounds like flavonoids/ tannins etc

· Mucilage: A drop of ruthenium red was added - pink to red colored contents indicated mucilage.

· Lignified cell walls: A drop of phloroglucinol was added to the section and allowed to stand for about 2 min or until almost dry. A drop of 50% HCl was added and observed over a cover-glass - cell walls-stained pink to cherry red indicating presence of lignin.

· Suberized or cuticular cell walls: A drop of Sudan red III was added and allowed to stand for a few minutes, warmed gently if necessary - cell walls-stained orange-red or red indicated suberin or cutin deposition over cell wall.

· Alkaloids: A drop of Wagner’s reagent was added - the presence of yellow to reddish brown colored contents confirmed alkaloids.^10,11,12

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

1. MACROSCOPY:

The fresh plant is erect, herbaceous; stem simple or sparsely branched, pubescent, foetid and with sticky hairs, longitudinal lines can be seen in stem; leaves simple, digitately compound 3 - 5 leaflets, lanceolate to oblanceolate, margin entire or serrate, lower leaves petiolate, upper ones subsessile to sessile, scale like stipules may be present, caducous; racemose inflorescence, terminal or axillary, solitary to many flowered with bisexual, zygomorphic or rarely actinomorphic flowers, pedicellate 10 to 20 mm long, membranous bracts, persistent or caducous, sepals 4, petals 4, white fading to pink colour, rounded at apex and clawed at base; stamens 4 to 6, filament inserted on a discoid, declinate, glabrous, anthers linear oblong; ovary superior, bicarpellary, sessile or on short gynophore, unilocular, ovules many on parietal 2 placentae, style short or absent, stigma capitate; fruit capsule, dehiscent, linear to oblong, with hairs; seeds brown coloured, circular in outline, 4 to 40, reniform or orbicular, reticulate, embryostraight, measuring 1.5mm diameter (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Macroscopy of Whole plant of Cleome gynandra

2. HISTOCHEMICAL TEST:

Petiole:

Lignin present in xylem of petiole; phenolic compounds found in cortex; oil globules detected in vascular region; alkaloids observed in ground tissue and phloem region; cutin found in petiole epidermis; few sphere crystals scattered in ground tissue; mucilage, starch grains and resins absent in petiole (Fig. 2).

Leaf:

Mucilage detected in midrib region; alkaloids and phenolic compounds present in lamina and midrib; lignin observed in xylem; starch grains found in lower side of leaf; cutin found in epidermis; oil globules present in vascular region and ground tissue; resin found absent in leaf (Fig. 3).

Figure 2. Histochemistry of Cleome gynandra petiole

Lignin in xylem and pericycle

Oil globules in vascular region

Cutin in epidermis

Sphere crystals

Alkaloids in ground tissue Alkaloid in phloem

Figure 3. Histochemistry of Cleome gynandra leaf

Mucilage in vascular region

Alkaloids in midrib Alkaloids in lamina

Phenolic compound Starch grains in lower side of leaf

Oil globule Cutin and oilglobule

Oilglobules in vascular region

Table 1. Analytical parameters of cleome gynandra linn

PARAMETER	RESULT
Total ash	10.7 % w/w
Water soluble ash	2.5% w/w
Acid soluble ash	1.7% w/w
Sulphated ash	3.7 % w/w
Water soluble extractive value	13.6% w/w
Alcohol soluble extractive value	11.0% w/w
Foaming index	8% w/w

3. PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING:

Thequalitative chemical test performed revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compound fixed oils and fatty acids.

Table 2: phytochemical screening of leaves of Cleome gynandra Linn

	Phytoconstituents	Ethanolic extract	Aqueous extract
1	Alkaloids	+	+
2	Saponins	-	-
3	Glycosides	-	-
4	Carbohydrates	+	+
5	Tannins	-	-
6	Flavonoids	+	+
7	Steroids	+	+
8	Phenolic compounds	+	+
9	Proteins and amino acids	+	+
10	Fixed oils and fatty acids	+	+
11	Gums and mucilage	+	+

(+) Denotes Presence (-) Denotes Absence

CONCLUSION:

The present study on pharmacognostical characters of Cleome gynandra linn might be useful to supplement information in regards to its identification. As there is no pharmacognostical work reported for this plant which reveals identity, purity, and quality of the plant material.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are thankful to by Dr KN Sunil Kumar Research Officer (Sci - II) Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Siddha Central Research Institute (CCRS), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, Chennai. Their continuous support facilitated the critical experiments and data collection necessary for this project. The acknowledging the management as well the faculties of The Erode College of Pharmacy Erode for providing support and encouragement for completing this in a good way.

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Received on 25.11.2024 Revised on 23.12.2024

Accepted on 11.01.2025 Published on 05.03.2025

Available online from March 11, 2025

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2025; 17(1):5-8.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2025.00002

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