Pharmacognostic evaluation and antimicrobial potential of Sanchezia oblonga Ruiz & Pav.: A comparative analysis of solvent extracts

The present scientific study deals with the pharmacognosy, preliminary phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of crude drug obtained from Sanchezia oblonga Ruiz & Pav., a lesser-known ornamental plant rarely found in India. Apart from its ornamental uses, this plant is also used as medicine for curing gastritis, rheumatism, cardiovascular problems, headache, etc. and it is a good source of antioxidants. To study the plant, standard methods have been followed for macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical characterization including fluorescence behavior of the powdered sample. Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial screening tests using leaf extracts against E. coli have also been performed. In leaf epidermal micromorphology, it was found that stomata are of typically diacytic type impregnated in both epidermal surfaces. Stomatal Indices were 11.48% and 42.43% in the upper and lower epidermal surfaces respectively. Eglandular, multicellular type of trichomes found in both surfaces of the leaf which are mainly 2 to 3-armed. The cross section of petiole showed semilunar outline housing 3 vascular bundles. Moisture content of the bark sample was found to be above 50 %. Out of five solvent extracts, methanolic extract of the leaf drug showed highest extractive value (9.15%). A total of thirteen important phytochemical groups, for example, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. are clearly detected during the microchemical color reaction tests of the leaf extract. In antimicrobial activity study, polar solvent extracts showed good Activity Index and large zone of inhibition against pathogenic E. coli strain. Overall, present study provides the pharmacognostic characters of Sancehzia oblonga which will provide first of a kind information for checking drug adulteration and authentication of quality of the crude drugs procured from this medicinal plant. It will also affirm the therapeutic uses through further research for drug development and bioprospecting.