Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Microsc Res Tech. 2024 Feb;87(2):279-290. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24429. Epub 2023 Sep 29.
Dicleptera chinensis J. (Acanthaceae) has been employed in traditional medicinal systems for treating various ailments. It has been used as an anti-inflammatory, wound healing, diuretic, and detoxifying agent in different regions of the world. This study determines several pharmacognostic standards, which are useful to ensure safety, efficacy, and purity of D. chinensis. Different parts of the plant were examined through a scanning electron microscope and light microscope, and cross-section images revealed several useful botanical features of the plant. The color, size, odor, shape, and surface characteristics of plant parts were also examined macroscopically. Pharmacognostic standardization parameters including ash values, loss on drying, swelling index, hemolytic index, and foaming index were determined in accordance with WHO guidelines. Heavy metal analysis was executed through atomic absorption spectrophotometer which depicted the presence of heavy metals and trace elements within the acceptable range. Qualitative phytochemical tests for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and so forth of plant extract were also performed, which showed the valuable amount of these phytochemicals useful for medicinal purposes. Preliminary phytochemical tests provide an indication for major phytoconstituents classes present in the plant. These quantitative and qualitative microscopic features are helpful in establishing the pharmacopeia standards of plant. Assessment of various pharmacognostic features such as morphology of various plant parts explained along with physicochemical and phytochemical analysis could be very helpful for future research. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Pharmacognostic standardization is employed as reported evidence for correct identification of D. chinensis. Structures identified by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy serve as diagnostic features of plant. Important secondary metabolites present in the plant suggest the need for further exploration through advanced metabolomics and other analytical techniques.
中华双扇蕨（凤尾蕨科）在传统医学体系中被用于治疗各种疾病。在世界不同地区，它被用作抗炎、伤口愈合、利尿和解毒剂。本研究确定了几种生药学标准，这些标准有助于确保中华双扇蕨的安全性、有效性和纯度。通过扫描电子显微镜和光学显微镜检查了植物的不同部位，横切面图像揭示了植物的一些有用的植物学特征。还通过宏观检查了植物部分的颜色、大小、气味、形状和表面特征。根据世界卫生组织的指南，确定了灰分、干燥失重、膨胀指数、溶血指数和泡沫指数等生药学标准化参数。通过原子吸收分光光度计进行了重金属分析，描绘了重金属和微量元素在可接受范围内的存在情况。还对植物提取物中的生物碱、黄酮类、皂苷、糖苷、单宁、碳水化合物、脂质、蛋白质等进行了定性植物化学测试，表明这些植物化学物质对药用具有有价值的含量。植物初步植物化学测试表明存在主要的植物化学成分类别。这些定量和定性的微观特征有助于建立植物的药典标准。对各种生药学特征的评估，如各种植物部分的形态，以及理化和植物化学分析，可以为未来的研究提供很大的帮助。研究亮点：生药学标准化被用作正确识别中华双扇蕨的报告证据。扫描电子显微镜和光学显微镜鉴定的结构作为植物的诊断特征。植物中存在的重要次生代谢物表明需要通过先进的代谢组学和其他分析技术进一步探索。
