A preliminary phyto-pharmacognostical evaluation of Opuntia elatior Mill. (Nagaphani or Hathalo-thore) fruit

Abstract

In Gujarat, Opuntia elatior Mill., a member of Cactaceae family known as Nagaphani or Hathlo-thore has been reported for its traditional uses as a medicinal plant. It is used as remedy in different disease conditions like anaemia, asthma etc. by tribal of Gujarat state. A detailed pharmacognostical character and pharmaceutical analysis of its fruit is not reported still yet. An attempt has been made to study the macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC profile of its fruit following standard procedures. Results show in Transverse section of unripe fruit, presence of outer exocarp layer with rosette crystals, followed by mesocarp and inner endocarp. Transverse section of ripen fruits, shows presence of same characters as fresh unripe fruit except the presence of betacyanins in its mesocarp layer. Powder microscopy of mature fruit shows diagnostic characters like multicellular tri chomes, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, coloring matter and starch grains. The ash value of O. elatior fruit   is 3.59 % w/w, pH - 5.27, total solid content - 10.83 %, viscosity - 5.11 and Specific gravity is 1.042. HPTLC study showed the presence of four and two spots in short and long UV respectively, among them, 0.04 and 0.97 are the common R_f value. These observed pharmacognostical, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC profile may be useful to establish the botanical standards for identification and standardization of O. elatior fruit