Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigation of leaves and flowers of Quisqualis indica Linn.

Quisqualis indica Linn. (Family Combretaceae) is commonly known as Rangoon creeper, traditionally used in cardiovascular disorder, fever, immunomodulatory. The fresh leaf and flower was studied for pharmaconostic evaluations, including examination of morphological and microscopic characters, determination of leaf constants, ash values and extractive values. The morphological studies revealed that the leaf is in dark green color with characteristic odour and slight bitter taste and the flowers are color varies in colors from white to pink to red. Flowers starts white and with age turn pink and then red with fragrant odour. The shape of Quisqualis indica leaves is as elliptical acuminate with entire margin, cordate base and its flowers grow in clusters and it blossoms year-round. Powder study of leaves revealed the presence of covering trichomes, annular xylem vessel, calcium oxalate crystals and anomocytic stomata and flowers revealed the presence glandular trichome, covering trichomes, oil glands, xylem vessels. Physicochemical parameters like ash value, extractive value and phytochemical screening with different reagents showed the presence of fluorescence compounds, steroids, triterpenoids, phenols, tannins and flavonoids. The phytochemical test and TLC study revealed the presence of slight amount of glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids in petroleum extract of leaves and flower. And flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids in methanolic extract of leaves and flower.