PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF FRUITS OF MALLOTUS PHILIPPENENSIS (LAM). MUELL- ARG (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Correct identification of starting material is necessary to ensure the quality of herbal medicines. Pharmacognostic evaluation is first step towards establishing identity and purity of crude drug. With this aim the present paper deals with study of pharmacognostic and physicochemical characteristics of fruits of Mallotus philippinensis (lam) Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae). The powder of Mallotus philippinensis was used for detection of various chemical constituents. The transverse section and the powder of fruit were studied for macroscopy, microscopy and physicochemical parameters. Fruit is globose, 3-lobed capsule with abundant orange or reddish glandular granules. The Microscopy showed the presence of epicarp, mesocarp endocarp. The cells also showed the presence of starch. From the pharmacognostical evaluation it was found that the fruit contains alkaloids, saponins, flavanoids etc. Physicochemical parameters were also within the limit. It can be concluded that Pharmacognostic evaluation can serve as tool for developing standards for identification, quality and purity of M. philippinensis