Comparative pharmacognostical, phytochemical, and marker analysis of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. young and mature stem barks

Introduction: Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., known as Saptaparṇa in Sanskrit, is a renowned medicinal plant in Ayurveda as a monoherb as well as an ingredient of polyherbal preparations. A number of phytoconstituents have been isolated and characterized from different parts of Saptaparṇa ; however, several more remain to be identified. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare phytopharmacognostic properties and High-performance Thin-layer Chromatography (HPTLC) of mature and young stem barks of Saptaparṇa . Materials and Methods: A pharmacognostical study of mature and young stem barks was done by morphomicroscopical observations. Comparative physicochemical studies, namely ash values and extractive values, were performed. The mature and young stem bark extracts were analyzed for the presence of lupeol and stigmasterol by HPTLC analysis. Results: Histological studies showed cortex cells with numerous prismatic crystals, lignified stone cells in mature stem bark. In young stem bark, cortex cells were filled with latex droplets. HPTLC studies revealed that lupeol and stigmasterol were present in both young and mature stem bark extracts. Conclusion: The quality standards for both mature and young stem barks have been established through comparative phytopharmacognostical and marker analysis, which confirms that key phytoconstituents are present in the young stem barks, similar to those found in the mature ones.