PHARMACOGNOSTIC, ANTIOXIDANTAND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF THE LEAVES OF AMARANTHUS VIRIDIS LINN.(AMARANTHACEAE)

📄 Project Abstract

Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae), an annual herb, used in traditional medicine as diuretic and emollient, in poultices on inflammations, boils or abscesses, as well as in the treatment of gonorrhea, piles, fever, filaria, dysentery etc. This study focussed on the evaluation of various pharmacognostic parameters including microscopic, physicochemical and phytochemical properties of the leaves of this plant, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The 70% aqueous ethanol leaf extract was used for the antioxidant and antimicrobial studies. The microscopy of the leaves revealed the presence of slightly wavy-walled epidermal cells on the upper surface and larger wavy-walled epidermal cells on the lower surface, with both containing anisocytic stomata; uniseriate glandular trichomes with unicellular head on both surfaces; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals within the cells. A transverse section through the midrib of the leaf revealed it to be a dorsiventral type and a ro...