Abstract

It is mandatory to scientifically validate any medicinal plant before drug development. Embellica officinalis commonly known as Amla or Embelic myrobalan is extensively used medicinal plant in Ayurveda for cure of various diseases as well as Rasayan purpose. However, its seeds have been mentioned to be helpful in Shweta pradar by Acharya Charak (C.Chi. 30/117). There is no published work till date on pharmacognostical characterization, HPTLC, FT-IR, LC-MS analysis of its seeds. The measures taken for pharmacognostical characterization were organoleptic study, macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening, HPTLC spectra, FT-IR, LC-MS profile . In phytochemical study, protein traces, flavonoids, glycosides, and tannins were found present. Analysis on the powder microscopy and physical parameters resulted a valuable data to establish standards for the plant. HPTLC profile provides number of constituents present in the extracts with their respective Retention Factor (Rf). LC-MS data confirms presence of active component (Diosgenin, Beta-sitosterol) in extract. Present report on pharmacognostical characterization and HPTLC, FT-IR, LC-MS analysis of Embellica officinalis seeds provides an imperative analytical tool for identification, authentication as well as development of quality standards of the seeds.

Key words: Embelica officinalis seed, Pharmacognostical, Physicochemical analysis.