Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr. (Polypodiaceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Platycerium bifurcatum (CAV.) C. Chr., Commonly known as staghorn fern is an epiphytic plant with diverse medicinal uses, such as anti-ulcer remedy, treating oedema, coughs and hypertension. This research was aim at evaluating the pharmacognostic profile of P. Bifurcatum. Methods: The fresh and air-dried plant materials were evaluated for microscopic characters, ash values, extractive values, moisture content and phytoconstituents. Results: Pharmacognostic evaluation revealed two shape of leaves, one round and the other forked-like shape, dark and light green colour, slightly coarse texture at the abaxial surface and hairy due to the trichome at the adaxial surface, reticulate leaf venation and margin entire, presence non- grandular stellate trichomes at the lower epidermal layer, spongy mesopghyll, collenchyma cells, vascular bundles straight type of epidermal cell wall, anisocytes stomata. Moisture content of 6.283%, total ash value of 8.25% within the standard range, acid insoluble ash of 1%, water soluble of 6.0% and phytochemical screening analysis shows the presence of phenolic, saponins, glycosides and triterpenoid constituents. Conclusion: this study reports the first time the pharmacognostic properties of P. bifurcatum.