ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL AND SYSTEMATIC STUDIES OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim to provide a comprehensive account
on the herbal drug authentication by using classical taxonomic parameters as well as pharmacognostic
approach. In the utilization of herbal medicine the key issue was their assurance of quality, purity and
effectiveness. However these herbal drugs face the complication in identification, taxonomic
characterization and their authentication. In the present work the taxonomic characterization was done
by morphological, anatomical, palynological, organoleptic, ultraviolet and infrared analysis. A great
diversity in anatomical features was perceived among these herbal species, as multi-celled trichomes
were located in Cassia angustifolia and Cassia occidentalis, While absent in Calendula officinalis.
Palynological examination revealed the highest pollen fertility in Parthenium integrifolium whereas
lowest value was observed in Calendula officinalis. Moreover UV, IR, organoleptic and chemical
studies proved to be vital taxonomic parameters, facilitating in authentication of various medicinal
plant species found in Punjab. Remarkable achievement of this study was the addition of four new
species in flora of Pakistan 1990, as these taxa were not mentioned earlier. These included Calendula
officinalis, Parthenium integrifolium, Silybum eburneum and Dalbergia obovata, although all these
species were common plants in Pakistan but present work gave a comprehensive account on these
species with multiple parameters, which was not published earlier.