Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Phytochemical Studies on the Roots of Amaranthus

Amaranthus tricolor Linn. belonging to the family Amaranthaceae is well known for curing a variety of ailments such as cough, throat infections, toothache, eczema, piles, diarrhea, gonorrhea, leucorrhoea and impotence. The present study deals with the pharmacognostic evaluation including examinations of morphological and microscopic characters, ash values, powder analysis, extractive values, moisture content and fluorescence analysis. Preliminary phytochemical screening was also carried out. Transverse section of the root showed the presence of cork cells, cortex, fibers, xylem and phloem. Total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, ethanol soluble extractive and water soluble extractive were 12.8%, 6.89%, 5.0%, 7.6% and 20.0% w/w respectively. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, proteins and amino acids. The study contributes to the development of standardization parameters of the plant which helps in the botanical identification of Amaranthus tricolor Linn. INTRODUCTION: Herbal drugs play an important role in the healthcare programs especially in the developing countries. Ancient literature incorporates a remarkable broad definition of medicinal plants and considers all parts of the plant to be potential source of medicinal substances . It is documented that 80% of the world’s population has faith in the traditional medicines particularly plant drugs for their primary health care . The main hindrance in the acceptance of herbal medicines is the lack of documentation and quality control. So it becomes extremely important to make an effort towards standardization of the plant material to be used as medicine. Amaranthus tricolor Linn. (FamilyAmaranthaceae) commonly known as Lal Chaulai or Joseph’s coat is reported to posses’ good medicinal value in the traditional system of medicine. It is an annual herb of 60-120 cm in height, rooting at nodes with branching above the middle portion. The plant have branches slender not spiny often tinged with purple color, grooved, striated and glabrous. The species is found to be grown in Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Southern Africa and throughout India. Ethno botanically, the herb is used as blood purifier, tonic in dropsy, as ascaricide, in tooth ache, sore throat, cough and bronchitis. The roots, leaves and stems are eaten in bilious disorders and are used as an aperient. Roots and seeds are used in leucorrhoea, impotence, against colic, gonorrhea, eczema and have galactagogue properties. Decoction of roots with Cucurbita pepo Linn. is used to control hemorrhages following abortion . Roots are considered as demulcent and in the form of decoction used for piles and diarrhea in children . The