Preliminary Evaluation Of Pharmacognostic, Physicochemical, And Phytochemical Properties Of Sansevieria Whitney Leaves

The study examines the pharmacognostic, physicochemical, and phytochemical properties of Sansevieria whitney leaves, a medicinal plant with potential therapeutic benefits. The leaves have an erect, sword-like morphology with parallel venation and no petiole. Microscopy reveals diagnostic features like tetracytic stomata, collateral vascular bundles, lignified sclerenchymatous fibers, and acicular calcium oxalate crystals and Powder microscopy confirms fibers, annular vessels, colored content, and epidermal cell inclusions. Physicochemical investigations reveal a total ash value of 11.3%, acid-insoluble ash of 0.11%, and water-soluble ash of 1.0%. The hydroalcoholic extract showed the highest extractive value of 5.8%w/w. The hydroalcoholic extracts contained secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, saponins, and carbohydrates, while glycosides, proteins, and tannins were absent. These findings support the plant's traditional medicinal claims and provide a baseline for further pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical investigations.