A Holistic Approach to the Pharmacognostic and Proximate Analysis of Cleome rutidosperma DC Leaves: Insights for Taxonomic Refinement

The Hydro alcoholic extract of Cleome rutidosperma (HAECR) leaf was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The anatomical, physicochemical, and pharmacognostic properties of the extract were analyzed. The results showed that the leaves of HAECR exhibit organoleptic and macroscopical characteristics, showing distinctive features that enhance its taxonomic profile. The powder microscopy of the leaf reveals key microscopic features, including epidermal cell density, stomatal density, palisade ratio, and vein structure. The fluorescence analysis of the powder under visible, short-wave, and long-wave UV light revealed distinct color reactions with various reagents. The physiochemical constants of leaf powder reveals several important quality parameters. The Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis revealed a diverse composition of bioactive compounds, evident from distinct retention factor (Rf) values, spot colors, and varied mobile phases. These findings establish a foundation for further exploration of phytochemicals in medicinal plants, which are known for their therapeutic potential, reinforcing the value of TLC as a tool for the identification and characterizing bioactive constituents.