Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Evaluation of Herbal Plant: Alangium lamarkii (Alangiaceae)

Alangium lamarkii (Alangiaceae) is commonly known as “Ankol”. In Ayurveda the leaves of the plant is useful in treatment of inflammations, blood disorders, burning sensation, spermatorrhoea, gleets, acute fever and lumbago. The root is acrid, pungent, heating, anthelmintic and alterative and useful in treatment of biliousness and inflammations etc.. The root bark is used in piles whereas fruits are considered as purgative, expectorant and carminative. In order to ensure the use of genuine and authentic material in the preparation of herbal formulations, pharmacognostical and phytochemical methods of standardization of the plant has been carried out in the present work. Macroscopic, microscopic and physico-chemical characters of the leaves of Alangium lamarkii has been carried out. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and thin layer chromatographic studies have been performed on the various extracts of the leaves of Alangium lamarkii. All these pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies can be used as a diagnostic tool for the correct identification of the plant and also to test adulteration if any.