Pharmacognostical evaluation and physiochemical analysis of Salsola Kali as medicinal plant

Abstract

One of the largest genera Salsola include halophytic plants with therapeutic potential. For the treatment of various ailments, plants of the genus are acclaimed. Salsola kali is an important medicinal plant exhibiting specific phytochemical and biological makeup that is frequently overlooked. The current study aimed at the pharmacognostical evaluation of leaves and stem of Salsola kali to ensure the purity, quality, and efficacy of this valuable medicinal species. For the identification, evaluation and standardization of diagnostic attributes of intact and powdered material of Salsola kali leaves and stem, various methods including organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, and physicochemical analysis were employed. The plant was identified to possess significant characteristics with a view to authenticate drug. Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of aerial parts of Salsola kali manifested specialized anatomical features essential for the adaptability in dry-saline environment. Upon quantitative pharmacognostic analysis of powder of leaves and stem, the moisture content of 1.3% and 11.1%, respectively was found. The total ash (%) in leaves and stem was computed to be 65.95 and 85.3, respectively. The water soluble and alcohol soluble extractive values (%) were computed to be 79.38 and 75.4 in leaves and 78.0 and 76.8 in stem, respectively. The swelling index (cm) in leaves and stem was enumerated to be 0.8 and 0.5. The current study will be helpful in the quality check and authentication of various parts of Salsola kali that can be used as principal component of herbal medicine formulation. Based on various microscopic analyses, that is, Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy, the detailed description and valuable information on Salsola kali, a medicinal plant, has been provided. The present study can make a significant contribution in the literature as the findings may contribute to the determination of purity of Salsola kali for future perspectives.

Keywords: Salsola kali; medicinal plant; pharmacognosy; physicochemical analysis.