Pharmacognostic Evaluation of the Leaves of Mitracarpus Scaber Zucc

Abstract

Mitracarpus scaber is a small herbaceous plant found ubiquitously in the Sahel Savannah region with great utility by the locals for its therapeutic activity. Earlier studies have reported its inhibitory actions as antibacterial and antifungal agents. On these bases the plant was evaluated firstly, to establish its pharmacognostic profile and secondly to reinvestigate its phytoconstituents, in inline with its antimicrobial records, so as to furnish information that will assist in the establishment of a monograph for the plant. Fresh powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves were examined macroscopically and microscopically under the microscope followed by physicochemical investigations using standard established methods.  Phytoconstituents chemicals of the plant was determined by the wet test method on three extract fractions of pet ether, chloroform, and methanol as well as their TLC profiles. Pharmacognostic studies revealed the presence of anomocytic type of stomata, non-glandular trichoms and cork cells. Physicochemical study gave moisture content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and alcohol extractive and water extractive values of 8% ±0.313, 27.5% ±0.550, 19.5% ±0.523, 3.4% ±0.134 and 6.8% ±2.221, respectively. The TLC profile also revealed a consistent number of spots within an Rf value of 0.2-0.8. These findings can serve as a relevant reference in the proper identification and establishment of standards, and also the provision of additional scientific information to validate the folkloric and other therapeutic claims of M. scaber.