Abstract

T. Mahesh Babu*, Dr. A. Vijayalakshmi and Dr. V. Narasimha

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dolichos biflorus Linn. (Family Fabaceae) commonly known as horse gram is used as a vegetable in India and the seed is known as the poor man’s pulse in southern India. It is a well known medicinal plant in folklore for its medicinal properties. Objectives: In the present study an attempt has been made to standardize this ethnopharmacologically useful seed on the basis of pharmacognostical, physico-chemical and phytochemical characteristics. Methods: The external morphology of seed was observed by using simple microscope. The percentage of foreign matter, loss on drying , Total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, sulphated ash of dried seed powder were determined. Aqueous and methanolic Extraction, was done using soxhlet apparatus and the extracts were used for Preliminary phytochemical screening. Results: The seeds were odorless, slightly acrid and nonaromatic. The loss on drying was 1.45%, the Total Ash was 7.72 % and the Water Soluble Ash was 2.85% whereas acid insoluble and sulfated ash showed low content (3.10 and 1.71% respectively). Methanol and water soluble extractive values (hot) were 15.21 %, 8.50 % w/w respectively. The preliminary phytochemical screening results certified the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, proteins, triterpenoids, tannins, saponins and mucilage (except starch) in methanolic extract of seed. Conclusion: The present study established pharmacognostic, physico-chemical, phytochemical, microscopic charecterizations and provided referential information for correct identification and standardization of this plant material.