Ochna kirkii Oliv: Pharmacognostical evaluation, phytochemical screening, and total phenolic content

Abstract

Background: Ochna kirkii Oliv. belongs to family Ochnaceae is commonly known as "mickey mouse plants"in Asia, included in Jakarta. Objectives: This research was conducted to study the pharmacognosy and total phenolic content. Methods: The pharmacognosy study including the macroscopic, microscopic, fluorescence and phytochemical characteristic, which enable to identification of medicinal plant drug, as well as the total phenolic content using spectrophotometric method. Physicochemical parameters, like loss on drying, ash value, extractive values etc. were also determined following WHO guidelines. Results: Physicochemical standard quantified include total ash 5.15% ± 0.4623, acid insoluble ash 0.32% ± 0.2614, water soluble ash 10.72% ± 0.2340, alcohol soluble extractive 12.8% ± 1.3770, ether soluble extractive 7.30% ± 1.8341, water content 5.76 % ± 0.0050, loss on drying 6.91% ± 1.6133. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins and triterpenoid. TLC profile of the O.kirkii leaves extracts (n-hexane, DCM, ethyl acetate and 70% ethanol) showed 8, 6, 7 and 10 spots respectively; in different solvent system. The total phenolic content was 252.08 mg GAE/g± 0.4430. Conclusions: The various macroscopic, microscopic, physical and phytochemical analysis of the O.kirkii leaf is useful in standardization for quality, purity and sample identification.