PHARMACOGNOSTIC ANALYSIS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF IPOMOEA BATATA LEAVES

The history of plants being used for various medicinal purposes is been recorded since olden days. According to WHO, for 80% of the world especially for common people including in developed countries herbal medicine is the one for which they have ready access. Evaluation of plant medicines has to be based on conceptual and theoretical groundwork of the traditional system of medicine, and should include utility of the progression in scientific knowledge. Several studies are needed to be conducted to develop the phytochemical and pharmacognostic profile of plant medicine based on which its pharmacological screening of plant extracts can be designed to develop new plant medicines or lead molecules. Hence the objective of the present study was to assess the pharmacognostic parameters of ipomoea batatas leaves to determine its quality and then followed by assessing the organoleptic and phytochemical nature of the methanolic extracts of Ipomoea batatas leaves. The selected plant part was dried, powdered and subjected to cold extraction i.e., maceration using methanol as solvent. The extract was dried for evaporation of solvent and then subjected to organoleptic and phytochemical studies. The phytochemical studies indicate that the Ipomoea batatas methanolic extract showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids and glycosides.The results of pharmacognostic studies revealed the physicochemical parameters of ipomoea batatas leaves.