Ethanobotanical, pharmacognostical and physico-chemical studies of stem bark of Bombax ceiba L., commonly growing in eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacognostic, physico-chemical characters and ethanobotany of an important medicinal plant, Bombax ceiba L. Methods: The pharmacognostic studies out in terms of various investigations like organoleptic or morphological characters, microscopic or anatomical studies, physico-chemical evaluations (loss on drying, ash values, extractive values), preliminary phytochemical screening, TLC finger print profiling and fluorescence analysis of powdered crude drug as per WHO recommended guidelines for standardizations. Results: The detail microscopy revealed the presence of collapsed phloem, non-collapsed phloem, sieve elements, sieve tubes, companion cells and starch grains. Physiochemical parameters such as percentage of foreign matters, ash values, loss on drying, swelling index extractive values were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrates, terpenoids, glycosides, Flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. Conclusions: These studies provided referential information for correct identification and standardization of this plant material. These information will also be helpful to differentiate Bombax ceiba from the closely related other species.