PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF LEAVES OF CAESALPINIA SAPPAN L. (PATRANGA) WITH AYURVEDIC INSIGHT

Caesalpinia sappan L. (Patranga) is an important medicinal plant widely described in Ayurveda for its therapeutic value. The present study was carried out to evaluate the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and physicochemical characteristics of Patranga leaves as part of an effort toward their standardization and quality assessment. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the leaves revealed characteristic diagnostic features useful for identification and authentication of the crude drug. Preliminary phytochemical screening of different solvent extracts demonstrated the presence of several bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, glycosides, steroids, and proteins. Physicochemical evaluation showed a moisture content of 9.71%, suggesting reduced chances of microbial contamination and better storage stability. The total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and water-soluble ash values were found to be 6.61%, 1.35%, and 7.05%, respectively. Alcohol-soluble and water-soluble extractive values were recorded as 12.70% and 18.25%, indicating the predominance of water-soluble constituents. The pH of the leaf powder was observed to be 4.03. The findings generated in the present study provide preliminary reference standards for the identification, authentication, quality control, and standardization of Patranga leaves. The study also highlights the potential use of leaves as a sustainable alternative to heartwood in herbal formulations and further pharmacological investigations.