Pharmacognostical Studies on Morinda Tinctoria. Roxb

The present study deals with the pharmacognostical studies on Morinda tinctoria.(Roxb). The leaves of M.tinctoria were shade dried and mechanically powdered after keeping them in an oven at 35oC for 24 hours. These powdered materials were used for further physiochemical, phytochemical and fluorescent analysis. The leaves contains total ash value is 31%, acid insoluble ash and acid soluble ash values are 29% and 71% respectively. Solubility percentages of alcohol were higher than water. Preliminary Phytochemical tests in the leaves of M.tinctoria reveals the presence of alkaloids, tannin and phenol, and flavonoids in aqueous and methanolic extracts. The phytochemical studies namely quantitative analysis proved to be worthy, due to the fact that it showed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites like alkaloid, carbohydrate, protein, phenol, tannin, flavonoids, gums and mucilages. Tannin content of leaves of M. tinctoria in our study is 6%. Fresh leaves containing amino acids were screened through the paper chromatography, which consists of Glycine, Proline, Valine and Phenylalanine. These pharmacognostic characters can be used as a diagnostic tool for the authentic identification of Morinda tinctoria, which will be very useful in designing the monograph on the drug in the Indian Pharmacopoeia.