Pharmacognostic Evaluation on Seeds of Madhuca longifolia (Koen.) Macbr. Var. latifolia (Roxb.) A. Cheval

Introduction: Mahuwa i.e., Madhuca longifolia (Koen.) Macbr. Var. latifolia (Roxb) A. Cheval  belongs to family Sapotaceae. The local people and aboriginals use the oil extracted from the seeds for cooking purposes. The powdered seed has several therapeutic uses too. Recently seed oil is used as biodiesel. Although seeds and oil are in use; deliberate attempt to study them has lacked. Methods: Pharmacognosy can be the first step in deciding the status of a plant organ as a crude medicine. Hence comprehensive Pharmacognosy of Mahuwa seed was carried out by macroscopy, microscopy, histochemistry, powder study, proximate analysis and preliminary phytochemical studies. Results: The present study provides the microscopic diagnostic characters such as presence of sclerides, oil ducts, crystals etc in seed. Physicochemical studies revealed total ash (0.65%), acid insoluble ash (0.5%), water soluble ash (5.95%), alcohol soluble extractive (23.04%) water soluble extractive (17.76%) and chloroform extractive (12.3%). Histochemistry and Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponnins, terpenoids, anthraquinone glycoside, cardiac glycoside etc. Conclusion: These studies will help in establishing the  pharmacopeial standards for the said drug.