Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF SESBANIA SESBAN (L) MERR LEAVES

Karibasappa U. S.* and Neelesh Chaubey

ABSTRACT

Sesbania sesban (L) merr is a climbing, perennial shrub, belonging to family papilionaceae (Fabaceae) widely distributed and cultivated throughout tropical Africa, Asia and North West India. It is traditionally used as antidiabetic, anti-oxidants, purgative and demulcents. So in order to give scientific background to the above traditional claim, the leaves of Sesbania sesban (L) merr were subjected for pharmacognostical examinations like organoleptic, microscopical studies, powder character and physical evaluation.Phytochemical profiles of the leaves were studied and the salient diagnostic features are documented. Thedorsiventral leaf epidermal layer consists of anisocytic type of stomata and covering and glandular type of trichomes. Mesophyll region is differentiated into palisade cell and spongy parenchyma cells with starch grains and pericycle. Examination of diagnostic characters of powdered leaves indicated the presence of fibres, (limited number present) epidermal cells, stomata, glandular and covering trichomes, The determination of average covering trichomes length and width of leaf powder diameter of Sesbania sesban (L) merr, in microns average length of trichomes is (614.51) micron, and average width of trichomes is (33.325) micron, Leaves surface data like stomatal index of upper epidermis (26.03), vein islet termination (88.8) and vein termination number (33.3), the palisade ratio of Sesbania sesban leaf is (1:7.5) respectively.

Keywords: Sesbania sesban, Microscopy, Flavonoids, Tannins and Delphinidin.