Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF CASTOR LEAVES

Bindu Gopalkrishnan* and Shinvetra Rampally

ABSTRACT

Ricinus communis Linn. is commonly known as Castor. It is a perennial shrub. Castor belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. The oil obtained from the seeds is well known for its medicinal properties. The therapeutic potential of the castor leaves are less known. The leaf juice is a purgative, lactagogue and emmenagogue. In order to introduce castor leaves for its medicament the current study is undertaken. The present investigation deals with the pharmacognostical studies on castor leaves. For Pharmacognostical evaluation macroscopy, microscopy, powder study and histochemical analysis of leaves were performed. Physicochemical constants such as ash and extractive values were determined. The Physicochemical analysis showed ash values 3.3 % in which the acid insoluble ash is 1 % and water soluble is 8%. The preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponin, terpenoids, anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides.

Keywords: Ricinus communis, Castor, Euphorbiaceae, pharmacognosy.