Comparative Study of Tragia involucrata L. and Tragia Spp. by Using Preliminary Standardization Techniques

Abstract

Since ancient times humans have been using plants as medicine in different formulations to treat various ailments. Tragiainvolucrata L. [TI] commonly known as Welkahambiliya (Sinhala) andIndian stinging nettle (English) is a widely used indigenous medicinal plant. Experimentally, it shows analgesic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, psychopharmacological, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, hypolipidaemic, diuretic and antioxidant activities. In industry another Tragia spp. is used as substitute for TI. Morphologically, both plants consist of stinging hair which irritates skin. Difference between the two plants is stem type. TI is a vine and Tragia spp. starts to grow as a shrub and twines around a support after it grows to about 1 meter in height. Present study aimed to investigate physic-chemical and preliminary phytochemical screening of powdered whole plant of both Tragia species as aninitial study to compare the plants and investigate whether Tragia spp. can be used as substitute for TI. Hot and cold extractions of both species were prepared using solvents with different polarities dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water. Physico-chemical parameters such as moisture content, total ash content, acid soluble and water insoluble ash content were determined. Both plant materials examined showed many physico-chemical and phytochemical similarities. Extractive values were determined in hot and cold extractions of each solvent. In phytochemical screening presence of alkaloid, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, steroid glycosides saponins, tannins and terpenoids were investigated. TLC was performed to hot and cold dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of both species using different solvent systems. They were visualized under UV 254 nm 366 nm. It was observed that most Rf values were similar in both plant materials. These preliminary studies provide referential information regarding plant identification and also reveal that both plant materials have similarities in phytochemical compounds and TLC fingerprinting. Further in vivo biochemical studies should be performed to investigate efficacy of the two plant materials for their pharmacological activities