Pharmaco-Nutraceutical and Chromatographic Study of Wattakaka Volubilis (Linn. f.) Stapf. Leaves

Abstract

Wattakaka volubilis (Linn.f.) stapf. (Asclepediaceae), twinning shrub, is used as a source plant of Jeevanti, an established drug of Ayurveda. Its leaves are used by the tribal people as a source of vegetable. The present work has been undertaken, to establish the necessary pharmacognostical, nutraceutical, physicochemical and HPTLC characters of leaves of Wattakaka volubilis following standard procedures. Results showed that the leaves are simple, petiolated, opposite, cordate to ovate, hispidly hairy in younger parts. In transverse section the leaf showed collenchyma with paracytic stomata, pericyclic fibers, rosette crystals etc. and stomata is 11–14 sq/mm in number. The preliminary physio-chemical analysis showed the percentage of total ash (15.6%w/w), acid insoluble ash (2.512%w/w), loss on drying (8.73%w/w) etc. In HPTLC the leaf showed 7 spots in 254 nm and 8 spots at 366 nm. Nutraceuticall analysis showed the presence of nitrogen, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C and folic acid.

Keywords: Dregea volubilis, Jeevanti, Nutraceutical, Pharmacognosy,
Wattakaka volubilis