Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF CULCASIA SCANDENS P. BEAUV. (ARACEAE)

Umoh Romanus A.*, Umoh Uwemedimo F., Johnny Imoh I., Effiong Daniel E., Umoh Omodot T. and Ekanem Ama E.

Abstract

Culcasia scandens P. Beauv. (Araceae) is a medicinal plant commonly known as Climbing Arum and by the Ibibio speaking people of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria as Ata Utippe is known for its analgesic, antiabortifacient and anti-emetic properties. The study was aimed to investigate the pharmacognostic parameters of Culcasia scandens leaf. The leaves were identified, collected, air dried, weighed and subjected to evaluation parameters of microscopy, micromeritics, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence, extractive values, moisture content and ash values using standard procedures. The result of microscopy revealed amphistomatic type of stomata with unicellular trichomes on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces, stomatal index of 8.68% on abaxial surface and 3.54% on the adaxial surface. The stomatal number on the abaxial surface was 6(11.3±0.70)13 and adaxial surface was 4(6.1±0.43)8. The micromeritics indicated that the powder had fair flow while chemomicroscopy indicated that the powder contained various constituents including lignin, mucilage, starch and calcium oxalate crystals. The fluorescence properties revealed different colours under Ultraviolet lights. Soluble extractive values were found to be 5.50%w/w for water, 4.25%w/w for methanol and 3.50%w/w for ethanol. The moisture content of the leaf was found to be 10.67%w/w, total ash value was 11.33%w/w, water- soluble ash value 3.00%w/w, acid- insoluble ash was 1.33%w/w and sulfated ash value was 16.00%w/w. In conclusion the results obtained from this study provide information about the identity, purity and quality of Culcasia scandens for medicinal and formulation purposes.

Keywords: chemomicroscopy, Culcasia scandens, micromeritic, Pharmacognostic.