PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION AND DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF PUTRANJIVA ROXBURGHII

Background: Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. (family: Putranjivaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments, including urinary disorders, inflammation, fever, and other health conditions. Despite its ethnomedicinal importance, limited scientific evidence is available regarding its pharmacognostic characteristics, phytochemical profile, and diuretic potential. The present study was undertaken to establish pharmacognostic standards, investigate the phytochemical constituents, and evaluate the diuretic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of P. roxburghii. Methods: Fresh leaves of P. roxburghii were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, powdered, and extracted with methanol by the maceration method. Pharmacognostic evaluation included organoleptic, microscopic, fluorescence, and physicochemical analyses. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative chemical tests. The diuretic activity of the methanolic leaf extract was evaluated in Wistar albino rats at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg using furosemide (20 mg/kg) as the standard drug. Urine volume, urinary sodium, potassium, chloride excretion, and diuretic index were determined to assess the diuretic effect. Results: The methanolic extraction yielded 48.5 g of crude extract (9.7% w/w). Pharmacognostic studies established characteristic organoleptic features, microscopic diagnostic characters, fluorescence behaviour, and acceptable physicochemical parameters, supporting the identity and quality of the plant material. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and reducing sugars. In vivo evaluation demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in urine output and urinary electrolyte excretion. The higher dose (200 mg/kg) exhibited greater diuretic activity, producing a urine output of 7.1 ± 0.31 mL with a diuretic index of 2.21, compared with 8.6 ± 0.35 mL and 2.68, respectively, for the standard drug furosemide. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the methanolic leaf extract of Putranjiva roxburghii possesses significant phytochemical constituents and exhibits promising dose-dependent diuretic activity. The pharmacognostic parameters established in this study may serve as useful standards for authentication and quality control of the plant. The observed diuretic effect supports the traditional use of P. roxburghii in the management of urinary disorders and suggests its potential as a natural source for the development of safe and effective herbal diuretic agents.