A comprehensive quality control standardization of Mirabilis jalapa L. tuberous root

Abstract

The aim of the study to established the standard monograph in respect of pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics of Mirabilis jalapa Linn. tuberous root. The parameters were investigated as per the procedure mentioned in World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. Mor- phological characters showed that the roots are conical in shape, fleshy, healthy upper part followed by narrow at the end, branched, presence of buds on the surface, externally brown to dark grey in colour and internally whitish to buffed in colour, taste is slightly sweetest without any odour. Microscopically, the tuberous root showed the presence of Epidermis, cortex, collateral vascular bundle, medullary rays, phloem fibres, acicular crystal of calcium oxalate, starch grain, meta-xylem, proto-xylem etc. In phytochemical analysis the tuberous root extracts shown the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, steroids and glycosides. Physicochemical parameters like ash value, loss on drying, foreign matter, extractable matter, foaming index, swelling index, volatile oil content, fluorescence analysis, crude fibre content, total number starch grain content and presence of heavy metals were established and reported. The present study will assist the further investigation on this plant.