Pharmacognostic and chromatographic standardization of Calyptrochilum emarginatum (SW.) Schltr. (Orchidaceae)

Abstract

Pharmacognostic and chromatographic evaluation of Calyptrochilum emarginatum (SW.) a potential drug plant belonging to the orchid family was carried out. High performance liquid chromatographic standardization of the methanol extract revealed sixteen compounds one of which had the same retention time 6.8 minutes as reference rutin. Thin layer chromatography of the hexane extract showed 11 spots one of which had Rf value of 0.5 same as β-sitosterol and the successive ethyl acetate extract gave 9 spots. Proximate analysis revealed moisture content of 11.9%, alcohol extractive value 1.4%, total ash 6.9%, water soluble ash 2.5% acid-insoluble ash 3.2% and water extractive value 13.8%. Microscopic evaluation of the leaf epidermis revealed anomocytic stomata which were only on the lower surface (hypostomatic), the epidermal cells were polygonal in shape on both adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) surfaces. Trichomes or trichome bases were not found on both surfaces.

Keywords: Orchid, Calyptrochilum emarginatum, microscopy, chromatography, rutin