Pharmacognostical Studies on the Root of "Hibiscus Mutabilis"

Pharmacognostical studies on the root of Hibiscus mutabilis were carried out to establish diagnostic standards for its identification, authentication, and quality control as a medicinal crude drug. The study included detailed macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical, and phytochemical evaluations of the root. Macroscopically, the root was observed to be cylindrical, brownish in color, fibrous, and characteristic in odour and taste. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of cork cells, parenchymatous cortex, lignified xylem vessels, medullary rays, and abundant starch grains, which serve as distinguishing anatomical features. Powder microscopy of the dried powdered drug exhibited diagnostic characters including cork cells, thin-walled blunt end fibre with broad lumen, thin-walled pointed end with broad lumen, reticulate vessels, Pitted parenchyma, calcium oxalate which are useful for identification and adulteration, Physicochemical parameters such as ash values, extractive values, moisture content, and fluorescence analysis were determined according to standard pharmacopoeial procedures. Preliminary phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and phenolic compounds, suggestion significant therapeutic potential. These pharmacognostical characteristics provide valuable standards for the proper identification and prevention of adulteration of the root drug and may support its further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations.