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.
