Pharmacognostic Investigations On <i>Turnera ulmifolia</i>

Abstract

Turnera ulmifolia Linn. has been traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments such as rheumatism, vertigo, dysmenorrhea and dysentery. Microscopically, leaf of T. ulmifolia showed the presence of abundant stellate non-glandular trichomes, anisocytic stomata and large number of calcium oxalate crystals along the veins. Lignified spiral vessels, pericyclic fibres, and starch grains were observed in powdered aerial parts of T. ulmifolia. Total ash of the aerial parts of T. ulmifolia was about 3 and 6 times more than acid insoluble and water soluble ash respectively. Water soluble extractive value of the plant was found to be approximately twice the alcohol soluble extractive value. TLC of petroleum ether extract showed 6 spots using hexane:chloroform
( 17:3) as mobile phase, chloroform extract showed 7 spots using toluene:ethylacetate:glacial acetic acid (35:4:1), and methanol extract showed 9 spots
using toluene:ethylacetate:glacial acetic acid (15:4:1) on spraying 0.5% anisaldehyde followed by heating for 5minutes at 105°C. Phytochemically, the plant was found to contain alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates and proteins.

Keywords: Turnera ulmifolia, Turneraceae, Ash values, Extractive values, Thin layer chromatography, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Proteins.

Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 11 2007 pp. 5-9