Development of quality control parameters for the standardization of bark of Ficus benghalensis Linn.

Alok Semwal, Ratendra Kumar, Udai Vir Singh Teotia, Ramandeep Singh

1Department of Pharmacy, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, U.P (India)

2Meerut Institute of Engineering & Technology, Meerut-250005, UP (India)

3Department of Pharmacy, Himachal Institute of Pharmacy, Paonta Sahib-173025, H.P (India)

Development of quality control parameters for the standardization of bark of Ficus benghalensis Linn.

Alok Semwal1*, Ratendra Kumar2, Udai Vir Singh Teotia1, Ramandeep Singh3

1Department of Pharmacy, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, U.P (India)

2Meerut Institute of Engineering & Technology, Meerut-250005, UP (India)

3Department of Pharmacy, Himachal Institute of Pharmacy, Paonta Sahib-173025, H.P (India)

Ficus benghalensis

Standardization

Pharmacognostic

Physicochemical

Macroscopic

Objective: To study with pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical studies of the bark of Ficus benghalensis (F. benghalensis) Linn. Methods: Parameters used to fulfill the objective of the study include various methods such as, Phytochemical test, TLC analysis, foreign matter, ash values, swelling index, fluorescence analysis, extractive value, and moisture content etc. Results: The results of foreign matter were recorded in Tables. Conclusion: These parameters can be utilized for quick identification of the bark of F. bengalensis Linn. and will definitely help in the development of pharmaceutically useful formulations.

1. Introduction

Ficus benghalensis (F. benghalensis) Linn. known as Vata in Sanskrit, is one of the reputed Panchavalkala drugs of ayurveda. It is native to India where it grows from low altitudes to 2000 ft (610 m), especially in dry regions. It grows in planes, in roadsides etc. It is native to a wide area of Asia from India through Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Southeast Asia, Southern China and Malaysia. Useful parts includes Aerial root, Bark, Leaves, Buds, Fruits, Latex[1,2]. Different parts of the plants are used for various medicinal purposes. The leaf primordium (leaf bud) is known as Vata shrunga in Ayurvedic system of medicine. As per Ayurvedic Nighantus, Vata shrunga has the property of curing daha (burns), thrishna (thirst), moorcha (faintness),raktapitta (haemorrhage), kapha and pitta[3,4]. The group of four Ficus, all yielding latex according to ayurveda consist of Nyagrodha (F. benghalensis), udumbara (Ficus glomerata/ Ficus racemosa), Plaksha (Ficus lacor/Ficus retusa) and ashvattha (Ficus religiosa) the bark and leaves of this group are used as astringent, haemostatic, anti-inflammatory, ant-septic: prescribed in diarrhea, dysentery, and in the treatment of skin diseases, ulcers, vaginal disorders, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, deficient lactation[5-9].

Although the stem bark of ficus species are important but very less studies has been reported so far on pharmacognostic and phytochemical parameters. Hence this study was undertaken to develop comparative pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical standards for the steam bark of Ficus benghalensis Linn. This may be useful to researchers for authentication of commercial sample and also to explore the possibility of its use in medicines.

2. Material and methods

2.1. Processing of plant material

The plant material F. benghalensis Linn. (Figure 1 & Figure 2) was collected from Poanta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, India and identified with authentification number GUH 20727 by the Botanist Dr. R. M Painuli, Incharge GUH, Harbarium Department of botany, H. N. B. Garhwal University (A Central University) (U.K.) India. The steam bark is separately dried in shade, and powdered in mixture grinder. The powdered plant material was preserved in air tight container for future use.

2.2. Plant extracts chemicals and reagents

The powdered plant material was extracted successively with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, Methanol and distilled water. All the extracts thus obtained and kept in desiccators for future use. All the other chemical and reagents used in this study are analytical grade and used without further purification.

2.3. Development of standard analytical parameters[10]

Macroscopical evaluation, microscopic studies, physical parameters such as foreign matter, ash values, swelling index, fluorescence analysis, determination of pH, extractive value, moisture content, heavy metal analysis of the plant material were performed according to the standard official methods[11,12]. Successive extraction of the powdered plant material (steam bark) was carried out in Soxhlet extractor with the help of various solvents of different-different polarity. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of obtained extracts was carried out according to the standard methods. Thin layer chromatography analysis of petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts were carried out in various solvents according to the standard protocols[13-15].

3. Result

3.1. Macroscopic characteristics

Macroscopic study revealed the presence of brownish colour, stimulant odour, astringent taste and rough with fracture texture of F. benghalensis Linn. steam bark (Table 1).

Table 1.Foreign organic matter of powdered bark of F. benghalensis Linn.

3.2. Foreign organic matter

Foreign organic matter means the material consisting of material not coming from the original plant source or not covered by definition of the herbal drug. It also includes insects, moulds and other animal contamination, parts of the organ or organs from which the drug is derived. The results of foreign matter were recorded in the form of % w/w (Table 2).

Table 2.Extractive values of powdered bark of F. benghalensis Linn.

3.3. Ash value

Ash value is used to determine quality and purity of a crude drug. The ash of F. benghalensis Linn. (steam bark) contains inorganic radicals like phosphates, carbonates and silicates of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium etc. The results of ash values were given in Table 3.

Table 3.Ash value of powdered bark of F. benghalensis Linn.

3.4. Extractive values

This method determines the amount of active constituents extracted with solvents from a given amount of medicinal plant material. It is employed for materials for which as yet no suitable chemical or biological assay exists. The air dried, accurately weighed powdered drug was treated with solvents: petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and water. The values were recorded in Table 4.

Table 4.Flourosence analysis of bark of F. benghalensis Linn. treatment visible light and UV light.

3.5. Determination of moisture (loss on drying)

The most common method for the determination of moisture is to heat the drug till one gets constant weightat 100 ℃. For the substances which undergo change with consequent loss of weight at a temperature of 100 ℃, other methods are used. Loss in weight after drying was found to be 10% w/w which was not so high as to facilitate bacterial growth.

3.6. Fluorescence analysis

The drug powder was taken and treated with various chemical reagents like sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, 5% iodine solution, 10% sodium hydroxide solution, picric acid and ammonium solution, Methanol, Ethanol, Chloroform, Petroleum ether, Distilled water and the color obtained was visualized under ordinary light, short UV light (254 nm) and Long UV light (366 nm) in UV chamber. The results were recorded in Table 5.

Table 5.Treatment of dried bark of F. bengalensis Linn. with different chemicals.

3.7. Treatment of powdered drug with different reagents

The powdered drug was taken and treated with various chemical reagents like hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, acetic acid, picric acid, sodium hydroxide and the change in colour was observed. The results were recorded in Table 6.

3.8. Phytochemical screening

The various extracts of stem bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn. were subjected to qualitative chemical examination for the presence or absence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavanoids, proteins, saponins and tannins, phenolic compounds and glycosides. The results of preliminary phytochemical screening were recorded in Table 7.

3.9. Thin layer chromatography

TLC studies of the petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts were carried out in various solvents at 30 ℃ using silica gel G as adsorbent[17]. The solvent systems, developer used and the Rfvalues are given in Table 8.

3.10. Heavy metal analysis

In the heavy metal analysis the concentration of Arsenic, Cadmium & Lead was found to be 0.006 7, 0.008 6 and 0.063 6 ppm respectively.

Table 6.Preliminary phytochemical screening of bark of F. benghalensis Linn.

Table 8.Macroscopical characteristics of F. benghalensis Linn. Bark.

Figure 1. F. benghalensis Linn. tree[16].

Figure 2. F. benghalensis Linn. bark (WHO/PLIM)[16].

4. Discussion

The extensive literature survey revealed F. benghalensis Linn. to be a sacred and important medicinal plant used for the treatment of skin diseases, ulcers, diarrhea, dysentery, vaginal disorders, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, deficient lactation etc. Various parts including stem bark of F. benghalensis Linn. are also used as astringent, haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and ant-septics. Besides of these immense medicinal properties, there is lack of research work in order to identify the pharmacogonostical and physiochemical properties of F. benghalensis Linn. Our present research work is an attempt for providing a set of data which will be of immense use in carrying out further research and revalidation of its use in Ayurvedic system of medicine. All these parameters which were being reported in this research article could be useful in identification of distinctive features of the drug.

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the authorities of Department of Pharmacy, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, U.P for providing support to the study and other necessary facility like internet surfing, library and other technical support to carry out this research work.

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ment heading

10.1016/S2221-6189(13)60147-X

19 June 2013

*Corresponding author: Alok Semwal, Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, U.P (India).

Tel: +91-9736295124

E-mail: alokm.pharm01@gmail.com

ARTICLE INFO

Article history:

Received in revised form 23 July 2013

Accepted 20 August 2013

Available online 20 December 2013