Pharmacognostic Studies on Root-bark and fruit of Morinda tinctoria Roxb Praveena A.1,*, Sanjayan K. P.2 1Department of Biotechnology, Prathyusha Engineering College, Thiruvallur-602025, Tamilnadu, India 2Department of Zoology, Gurunanak College, Velachery, Chennai-600 042, Tamilnadu, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: praveena_bioinfo@yahoo.com
Online published on 24 October, 2018. Abstract Morinda tinctoria commonly known as Indian Mulberry is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae which plays important role in traditional medicine. In the present study, the various anatomical characteristics and proximate analysis of root-bark and fruit of Morinda tinctoria were investigated by the microscopic sectioning using standard pharmacopoeia methods. Microscopic examination of the root-bark indicated the presence of calcium oxalate crystals of raphide bundles in the axial parenchyma. Calcium oxalate crystals were also present in the fruit, either as a 4-lobed druse type or as a spindle shaped Raphide type. Proximate analysis was carried out to evaluate the plant as a potential source of active compounds which could be served as potent drug or to develop novel insecticide against the major pest which involve in crop damage. A lower acid insoluble ash content was recorded for the fruit than the root-bark. Acid insoluble ash value of M. tinctoria fruit (0.510%) shows that small amount inorganic compound is insoluble in acid and therefore the fruit may be readily digested and absorbed when consumed. Top Keywords Morinda tinctoria, Microscopic sectioning, Calcium oxalate crystals, proximate analysis, Raphide bundles. Top |