Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Typha Angustata with Special Reference to Wound Healing Activity of its Female Infloresence

Abstract

Plants belong to Typha genus have been mentioned in many traditional literatures of different countries but till date complete scientific study with respect to phytopharmacology has not been reported so far for many species. One such species growing in India i.e Typha angustata of which the inflorescence has been reported to be used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of wounds, burns and ulcers. Looking to that the present study was designed to find and evaluate pharmacognostic, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of the plant with special reference to wound healing activity of its female inflorescence. In present study detailed morphological and microscopical studies of leaf, stem, rhizome and root was carried out. Major microscopic characters of microscopy of leaf include typical type of paracytic stomata were observed in which guard cells were covered by 4 subsidiary cells, two were typically arranged parallel but other two were at right angle above the parallel arranged cells, wedge-shaped lamina margin, thick zone of fibres at the margin and contained one to four vascular bundles embedded at the proximal edge of the zone. Major microscopic characters of stem include large vascular bundles located throughout the stem and a lignified band of fibres oriented concentrically around the stalk between the second and third rings of vascular bundles. Major microscopic characters of rhizome include aerenchymatous cortex with irregular lacunae and scattered small bundles of fibres. Major microscopic characters of root include epiblema followed by a 4 to 6 layered hypodermis of thin walled cells with single layer of root hairs, radially elongated air spaces in cortex and vascular bundles with xylem vessels forming a circle in the centre. The physicochemical parameters of female inflorescence of Typha angustata were studied. The various extracts aqueous extract, methanolic extract, ethylacetate extract, chloroform extract and petroleum ether extract was prepared. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed presence of carbohydrates and alkaloids in all extracts, while aqueous, methanolic and ethylacetate extract showed considerable presence of flavonoids, phenolics and tannins. The total phenolics were found higher in aqueous extract as compared to methanolic extract while the total flavonoids were found higher in methanolic extract as compared to aqueous extract