Pharmacognostic Characterization of Cola millenii K. Schum. (Malvaceae)

Background: Cola millenii K. Schum. is a member of Cola which is lesser-known in the family Malvaceae. The leaf is used in the treatment of ringworm, scabies, gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, cough and ophthalmia by the locals.

Aim: The study determines various taxonomic, pharmacognostic and phytochemical standards helpful to ensure the identity, purity, safety and efficacy of the medicinal plant, C. millenii.

Methodology: The pharmacognostic characterization was determined following the guidelines given by the World Health Organization (WHO). Parameters determined included macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, petiole anatomy, chemomicroscopy, micromeritic properties, ash values, extractive values, fluorescence analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening for both the leaf and stem ethanol extracts showed the presence of phytochemicals. Epidermal cell shapes were polygonal with straight anticlinal walls. Stomatal distribution was hypostomatic with hexacytic, anisocytic and anomocytic stomata on the abaxial surface. Unicellular and glandular trichomes were observed on the abaxial surface. Areolation was quadrangular with calcium oxalate crystals observed along the veins. The chemomicroscopic study revealed the presence of lignin, starch, cellulose, oils, calcium oxalate crystals, mucilage and protein for both leaf and stem respectively. The fluorescence characteristics showed the presence of different colours supporting the presence of various phytoconstituents for both leaf and stem. The flow properties for both leaf and stem were fair and passable with the angle of repose of 40.6o and 36.8o respectively. The quantitative epidermal studies, chemomicroscopic and fluorescence characteristics revealed characteristic features for the drug. The physico-chemical results for leaf and stem gave total ash of 5.5 % and 12.07 %, water-soluble ash of 1.19 % and 3.39 %, acid-insoluble ash of 0.90 % and 2.29 % and moisture content of 4.49 % and 16.33 %, water-soluble extractive of 26.30 % and 22.50 %, ethanol-soluble extractive of 24.30 % and 16.80 %, methanol-soluble extractive of 20.90 % and 2.50 % and ethyl-acetate acetate-soluble extractive of 6.60 % and 1.10 % respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 31 and 45 phytochemical constituents for the leaf and stem respectively.

Conclusion: The data generated from the present study would help to authenticate C. millenii and also affirm its folklore use in traditional medicine.