Pharmacognostical Investigation of Ionidium suffruticsoum Ging. - A Seasonal Multipotent Medicinal Herb

Ionidium suffruticosum Ging. is a seasonal multipotent medicinal herb belongs to the family Violaceae. The plant claims highest medicinal values and used traditionally to treat diabetes, jaundice, male sterility, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, bowel complaints, urinary problems and various ailments. No detailed pharmacognistical works are available, hence, in the present study, morphological, microscopical and preliminary phytochemical investigations of the herb were undertaken. All the parameters were studied according to the WHO & Pharmacopoeal guidelines. Anatomical studies showed that secondary growth occurs in roots and basal stocks of stem indicating the seasonal and perennial nature of the herb. Powder microscopy revealed that phloem fibres, xylem vessels with spiral, annular, scalariform lignifications and calcium oxalate crystals were abundant in dried material of the plant. The qualitative chemical tests of the petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of plant material revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and carbohydrates.