Pharmacognostical evaluation of Lepisanthes rubiginosa bark / Nur Atikah Basharuddin

Lepisanthes rubiginosa, also known as Pokok Mertajam in Terengganu is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Sapindaceae. The decoction of roots is used to alleviate fever, the leaves are used externally to treat skin disease while the young stems of this tree are eaten by people in Indonesia to induce sleeping. The study provides the pharmacognostical evaluation of the bark of this plant which will be helpful in producing standardization and pharmacopoeia parameter. The microscopic examination showed secondary phloem, cortex,sieve elements, companion cell, fibre and medullary rays. While the physiochemical studies revealed total ash (4.67%), acid insoluble ash (0.50%) and water soluble ash (3.61%). The thin layer chromatography studies gave 10 spots in chloroform:methanol (80:20). In the colour reaction test, the bark powder produced different colour with different reagents.