Pharmacognostical standardisation of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. (Euphorbiaceae) roots

Jatropha integerrima Jacq. (Euphorbiaceae) is an erect ornamental shrub, native to West Indies. The plant has numerous applications in traditional medicine but there is a lack of data related to the standards of roots of the plant. So pharmacognostical study and parameters related to physico-chemical properties have been assessed. Macroscopy and microscopy of transverse section were performed. Extractive values, ash values, foreign matter, loss on drying, volatile oil content, bitterness value, swelling index, foaming index, crude fibre content, microbial contamination, aflatoxin content, heavy metal profile and pH values of drug solutions were analysed as per WHO guidelines. The roots of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. are light brown in colour with characteristic odour and slight bitter taste. Transverse section of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. root shows the presence of cork consisting of 6-8 cell layers, cortex, lignified protoxylem and metaxylem vessels intervened by medullary rays. Physicochemical parameters and quantitative standards were also estimated and the data thus generated may be used as an analytical feature to ascertain the authenticity and quality of the crude drug.