Pharmacognostic studies on Alangium salvifolium (Linn.f.) Wang. root bark

Root bark of Alangium salvifolium (Linn.f.) Wang. (Family Alangiaceae) is a reputed drug mentioned in the ancient books of Ayurveda and Siddha for the treatment of epilepsy, jaundice, hepatitis etc. Root bark of the plant was subjected to macro-microscopic, photomicrographic, physico-chemical, fluorescence, preliminary phytochemical, TLC and HPTLC to fix quality standards for this drug. Microscopic studies have shown stratified phellem, rhytidome, cluster crystals of calcium oxalate and uni- to triseriate medullary rays in the root bark. Chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol extracts and alkaloid fraction revealed characteristic chromatographic patterns with presence of alkaloids in varying concentrations. This study would be useful in the identification and authentication of the raw drug.