Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

  • Abbreviation: J. Pharmacognosy Phytother.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2502
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 235

Full Length Research Paper

Physicochemical, phytochemical and pharmacognostical parameters of a herbal plant Dracaena steudneri Engl.

Mercy Gladys Tenywa
  • Mercy Gladys Tenywa
  • Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
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Amon Ganafa Agaba
  • Amon Ganafa Agaba
  • Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
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Casim Umba Tolo
  • Casim Umba Tolo
  • Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
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Clement Olusoji Ajayi
  • Clement Olusoji Ajayi
  • Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
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Esther Katuura
  • Esther Katuura
  • Department of Plant Science, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
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  •  Received: 15 September 2021
  •  Accepted: 06 December 2021
  •  Published: 30 September 2023

Abstract

Dracaena steudneri Engl. (family Dracaenaceae) has been used in managing various health conditions. This study evaluated its pharmacognostic, physicochemical and phytochemical parameters. The physicochemical analysis was done using WHO recommended parameters such as moisture content, ash values (total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash) and extractive values. Phytochemical screening was done by methods described by Sofowora, Kokate and Prashant. The morphological studies exhibited the macroscopic characters while the microscopic study showed the presence of various characteristics such as vascular bundles, calcium oxalate crystals and paracytic stomata. Physicochemical evaluation indicated 13.7% total yield, 9.13% moisture content, 0.17% water soluble ash, 0.17% acid insoluble ash, 3.41% water insoluble ash, 0.84% acid insoluble ash, 16.25% acid soluble extractive value and 20% water soluble extractive value. The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides and phenols in the extract. The pharmacognostic characters described in this study will help in identifying the plant and crude drug. The standardization parameters obtained will ensure the efficacy of the drug and also distinguish the drug from its adulterants.

Key words: Dracaena steudneri, physicochemical, phytochemical, organoleptic evaluation.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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