Pharmacognostical and preliminary physico-chemical profiles of Blepharispermum subsessile DC. root

INTRODUCTION: Blepharispermum subsessile DC. is a folklore medicinal herb, found in Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. It is locally known as Rasnajhadi in Odisha and its roots are being used as Rasna in treating rheumatic, gynecological, nervous disorders. In spite of its high medicinal as well as market values, the pharmacognostical characters of its root is not reported till date. AIM: To evaluate pharmacognostical and preliminary physico-chemical profiles of B. subsessile root. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Roots of B. subsessile were collected from Odisha; its macroscopic, microscopic, powder characters and preliminary physico-chemical characters were studied following standard procedures. RESULTS: Microscopically, outer multilayered lignified cork cells, cortex, border pitted xylem vessels, tracheids, isolated or groups of thick-walled xylem fibees were seen. Physico-chemical parameters showed that water soluble extractive value (31.3%) is more than alcohol soluble extractive value (23.2%) and 5.5 pH value, etc. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study will be useful in the identification and standardization of the B. subsessile root.