Standardisation of homoeopathic drug: Plectranthus fruticosus

Abstract

Background: Plectranthus fruticosus (Benth.) Wight ex Hook. f, syn. P. deccanicus Brinq. is an under shrub belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Leaves and young stems of this plant are used as medicine in Homoeopathy. Objective: To carry out pharmacognostic and physico ‑ chemical studies to use authentic and correct species as standard raw materials to ensure purity, quality and its usefulness. Materials and Methods: The leaves and young aerial parts of Plectranthus fruticosus were fixed in formaldehyde: acetic acid alcohol (F.A.A), processed for microtomy (paraffin method), sectioned, stained and permanent slides prepared following Johansen. The microtome sections in T.S. and longitudinal section (L.S.) were obtained at 6-8 um thickness on Leica RM 2155 microtome. The powder microscopy characters were studied by boiling the powdered drug in distilled water, stained in saffranin and mounted with glycerine. Photomicrography was done with Olympus BX 53 research trinocular microscope. Results: The leaves are large, ovate to cordate, thin, margins with rounded serrations, surface coarse with dense covering hair. Petiole is long and stem is quadrangular with nodes. Trichomes are predominantly uniseriate, macroform, conical besides few uniseriate filiform peltate and capitate hairs. Lamina is conspicuously thin. The hypodermal collenchyma is angularly thickened. Vascular bundles in midvein are arranged in an ‘arc’. Petiole is oblong to rounded, in transection (T.S.) and undulated. A ring of angular collenchyma is present. Cortical cells possess starch grains and crystals of calcium oxalate. A continuous vascular cylinder is present interrupted with 2‑3 seriate medullary rays. The physicochemical properties and HPTLC fingerprints of this plant have been standardized. Conclusion: The powder microscopic features and organoleptic characters along with the anatomical and physico chemical studies including HPTLC fingerprints are diagnostic to establish the pharmacopoeial standards for the drug.