Pharmacognostical Standardization of Leaves of Xanthium strumarium Linn.

Xanthium strumarium L. (Compositae) (Hindi: Chota-gokhru), is a gregarious weed found abundantly throughout India. The whole plant is used as a diaphoretic, sedative, sudorific, diuretic and sialagogue. The ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitrypanosomal and anti-microbial effects. The present study deals with the pharmacognostical evaluation of leaves of Xanthium strumarium Linn. Macromorphology and microscopy (transverse section, powder microscopy and quantitative microscopy) were studies to establish the salient diagnostic features. The preliminary phytochemical analysis and thin layer chromatography has also been performed. The results of this study could be useful in setting some diagnostic indices for identification and preparation of the monograph of the plant.