Pharmacognostic Evaluation of the Bark of Acacia suma Roxb (Fabaceae)

• Published in: Tropical journal of pharmaceutical research Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 961
• Main Authors: Dash, Gouri Kumar, Abdullah, Mohd Syafiq, Acharyya, Suman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria 15-09-2014
• Subjects: Acacia suma var. Acacia polyacantha; Bark; Pharmacognostic evaluation; Pharmacopoeia; Phytochemical; Standardization
• ISSN: 1596-5996; 1596-9827
• DOI: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i6.20

Purpose: To undertake the pharmacognostic evaluation of Acacia suma
Roxb bark for the purpose of identification and differentiation from
related species. Methods: The macroscopic and microscopic features of
the bark were studied, including the use of powder microscopy with the
aid of suitable tools and reagents. Physicochemical parameters such as
ash values, extractive values and loss on drying were also determined.
The bark powder was successively extracted with different solvents
followed by preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts.
Results: Macro- and microscopic studies revealed an outer hard and
woody exfoliating old bark consisting of dead elements of secondary
bast alternating with tangential strips of compressed cork tissue. The
outer layer consists of cork cell with lenticels, followed by phellum,
phellogen and pheloderm layers. Concentric rings of secondary phloem
tissue alternating with regularly arranged polygonal stone cells and
radially traversed medullary rays were present. Preliminary
phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids,
carbohydrates, proteins, tannins and phenolic compounds, gums and
mucilages, steroids and triterpenoids, saponins and flavonoids in the
bark. Conclusion: The findings of this study will facilitate
pharmacognostic standardization of the plant material and aid in the
preparation of a herbal monograph for the species.