INTRODUCTION:

Ipomoea digitata Linn. of family Convolvulaceae is an extensive perennial climber, it grows as a vine, distributed from Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal to Ceylon in moist areas, monsoon forests and coastal tracts¹.

Leaves are large, palmately 5-7 lobed, lobes lanceolate, 10-15cm long, often broader than its length, ovate, lanceolate, acute or acuminate apex, glabrous, entire, pale coloured, prominent nerves beneath; petioles-5 to 12.5cm long, glabrous. Stems are long, thick, twining, tough, and glabrous. Roots are tuberous. Tubers are large, ovoid or elongated.

Flowers are many, not capitate, corymbosely paniculate cymes; peduncles solitary, auxiliary sometimes exceeding 5cm long, stout, bracts minute and deciduous; pedicels 6-mm long; sepals 6-8mm long, orbicular oblong, sub-obtuse, concave, glabrous; corolla purple, 3.8-6.3cm long; ovary 4 celled, complete and glabrous; capsules ovoid, 8-13mm long, 4-celled, 4-valved, surrounded by the enlarged rather fleshy sepals; seeds: four, black, wooly, clothed with brownish detachable hairs, nearly 6mm long^2,3. It has been reported that powdered roots are given internally in diseases of spleen and liver⁴. The root is aphrodisiac, diuretic⁵, carminative, expectorant, antioxidant⁶, stomachic, appetizer; useful in leprosy, syphilis, gonorrhea, diabetes⁷ and inflammations^8,9. Ethanolic extract of the root posses pronounced hepato protective activity^9,10.

Microscopical, morphological, physical, chemical and biological parameters play important role in the identification, initial detection of impurities, standardization and quality evaluation of herbal drugs and their products^11,12. The true source of crude drugs can be located only after detailed pharmacognostic and chemical studies. Several reports concerning pharmacgnostic studies of different plants^13-22are seen in the literature review revealed but no reports on such studies in detail about Ipomea digitata root was found⁵. In view of this, thorough pharmacognostic studies and preliminary phytochemical analysis of extracts with different solvents was carried out.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The roots and tubers of Ipomoea digitata Linn. were collected during the month of September from the forest near Tikabali in Phulbani district of Odisha, India. Collected roots were washed thoroughly and dried under shade. The specimens of plant materials collected as per the above description were identified by Professor P. Jayaraman, Director, National Institute of Herbal Science (Plant Anatomy Research Centre), Chennai.

Collected plant materials were thoroughly washed and further processed as per established procedures.

Prepared transverse sections were stained as per the earlier reported method^23,24,25.

Different cell components were studied and measured. Microscopic descriptions of tissues are supplemented with micrographs. Normal observations were made under bright field. Crystals, starch grains and lignified cells were observed under polarized light as they have bi-refringent property. Magnifications of the figures are indicated by the scale bars.

Proximate Analysis:

The physical parameters like moisture content, total ash content, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive value and water soluble extractive value were determined for the powdered sample²⁶ and the results are mentioned in the table 1.

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening:

The coarse powder of the roots was successively extracted with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and water by soxhlet extractor for 24 hours, for each solvent. After extraction, the resulting extracts were concentrated under vacuum. Yield of each extract was calculated with respect to the air dried material.

The extracts were subjected to qualitative chemical examination to detect the presence of various phytoconstituent²⁶.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Macroscopical and Organoleptical Analysis:

Colour, odour and taste of the dried roots were observed as pale brown, odourless and tasteless respectively. Diameters of the collected roots was found to be 2-3 cm with fibrous fracture, characteristics of the dried roots. (fig. 1).

Figure 1: Photograph showing roots with tubers of Ipomoea digitata.

Microscopical Analysis:

Numerous secretory canals (Fig. 10) are found scattered in the ground parenchyma, which are 50µm wide, angular or circular. The canal is surrounded by large, 6-8 layes of 10-15µm thick epithelial cells.

Periderm is superficial and uniform in thickness. It is smooth and even along the surface. It consists of 10-12 layers of tubular cells of phloem, which is 100µm thick. Phelloderm is narrow and 2 or 3 layered.

Cortex is narrow and consists of four or five layers of parenchymatous cells.

Cortical sclerenchyma cylinder is thin comprising of branchy sclereids.

Calcium oxalate crystals are fairly abundant in the ground parenchyma. They are prismatic type and are diffuse in distribution (Fig. 11 and 12). The crystals are 5 µm wide and 7-10µm long.

Figure 2: T.S. of Root: Ground plan.

[Co: Cortex; Pe: Periderm; PX: primary xylem core; SC: Sclerenchyma cylinder; SPh: Secondary phloem; SX: Secondary xylem; Ve: Vessel]

Figure 3: T.S. of primary xylem and secondary portions- secondary xylem.

[Ve: Vessel]

Figure 4: T.S. of primary xylem and secondary portions- primary xylem.

[PX: Primary xylem; SX: Secondary xylem].

Figure 5: Cortical portion and central portion enlarged-periderm, cortex and secondary phloem.

[Co: Cortex; Pe: Periderm; Sc: sclerenchyma cylinder; SPh: Secondary phloem.

Figure 6: Cortical portion and central portion enlarged- primary xylem strands. [Co: Cortex; CPh; Collapsed phloem; Pe: Periderm; Sc: sclerenchyma cylinder].

Figure7: Cortical portion and central portion enlarged- primary xylem strands.

[SC: Secretory canal; SX: Secondary xylem].

Figure 8: Secondary phloem, secondary xylem and secretory canal- xylem vessel and sclerenchyma. [CPh; Collapsed phloem; Sc: Sclerenchyma mass; Ve: Vessel].

Figure 9: Secondary phloem, secondary xylem and secretory canal- xylem vessel and sclerenchyma. [Ve: Vessel]

Figure 10: Secretory canal.

[Sc: Sclerenchyma mass; SC: Secretory canal; EC: Epithelial cells.]

Figure 11: Crystal distribution as seen under polarized light microscope; crystals in the ground parenchyma cells. [Cr: Crystals; Sc: Sclerenchyma cells; Ve: Vessel]

Figure 12: Crystal distribution as seen under polarized light microscope; crystals of prismatic type enlarged. [Cr: Crystals; Sc: Sclerenchyma cells; Ve: Vessel]

Proximate Analysis:

The results of the proximate analysis are mentioned in the table 1.

Table 1: Proximate Analysis Report (% W/W).

Determinations	*Ipomoea digitata* Root
Moisture content	43.5
Ash value	14.6
Acid insoluble ash	18.2
Water soluble ash	13.4
Water soluble extractives	4.6
Alcohol soluble extractives	7.1

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening:

Yield, colour and consistency of extracts are reported in table 2 and the preliminary qualitative phytochemical findings are reported in table 3.

Table 2: Extractive Value (% W/W)

Extracts	Percentage of extractives	Colour and Consistency of the Extracts (Under Day Light)
Petroleum ether Extract	2.33	Yellow and sticky
Benzene Extract	1.69	Pale yellow and sticky
Chloroform Extract	7.12	Dull green and semisolid
Acetone Extract	8.67	Dull green and sticky
Ethanol Extract	14.16	Dull green and solid
Chloroform Water Extract	14.31	Dull green and solid

Table 3: Phytoconstituents detected by qualitative tests of different extracts

Sl. No.	Constituents and Their Respective Tests	Extracts
Sl. No.	Constituents and Their Respective Tests	PEE	BE	CE	ACE	ETE	AQE
1.	Carbohydrates	-	-	-	-	+	+
2.	Glycosides	-	-	-	-	-	-
3.	Proteins and aminoacids	-	-	-	-	+	+
4.	Fixed oils and fats	+	+	-	-	-	-
5.	Alkaloids	-	-	-	-	-	-
6.	Saponins	-	-	-	-	+	+
7.	Flavonoids	-	-	+	+	+	+
8.	Phytosterols	+	-	-	-	-	-
9.	Phenolic compounds and tannins	-	-	-	+	+	+
10.	Gums and mucilages	-	-	-	-	+	+

(+) Sign indicates phytoconstituent present, (-) Sign indicates Phytoconstituent absent

[PEE: Petroleum Ether Extract, BE: Benzene Extract, CE: Chloroform Extract, ACE: Acetone Extract, ETE: Ethanolic Extract, AQE: Aqueous Extract.].

CONCLUSION:

The present study gives insight to the detailed microscopic and pharmacognostic parameters with several distinct characteristic features which will be a guideline for authentication of this drug, eliminating confusion in identification among related species. Consistency in the quality and purity of its herbal preparation can be maintained which will ensure safety in its use. Our findings can be used as a marker for identification and standardization of the drug by the industries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

We thank Professor P. Jayaraman, Director, National Institute of Herbal Science (Plant Anatomy Research Centre), Chennai, for providing his kind help in the photomicrography.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Nil.

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Received on 09.07.2023 Modified on 14.12.2023

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2024; 17(5):1956-1960.

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2024.00310