Pharmacognostical and Physicochemical Studies of Enhalus acoroides (L.F.) Royle (Rhizome)

Introduction: The rhizome of Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle is used in traditional medicine for treatment of many diseases e.g. muscle pains, wounds and stomach problems where pharmacognostical studies are lacking. Many chemical constituents; luteolin, apigenin, luteolin glycosides, stigmasterol, daucosterol have been reported. The aim of this work was to perform a pharmacognostical evaluation. Methods: Macroscopical, microscopical and physicochemical parameters were assessed. Results: E. acoroides has characteristic morphology. Microscopical studies indicated the presence of vessels, fiber, parenchyma cells, sclereids, tracheids and trichomes. Physicochemical parameters of E. acoroides rhizome; foreign matter, loss on drying and total ash content were measured. As well as chemical investigation through TLC and HPLC were specified. Conclusion: The present study of E. acoroides rhizome provides useful information that can serve as a diagnostic tool for the standardization of E. acoroides and will be helpful in characterization of the crude drug in the market.