PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF LEUCAS CEPHALOTES

Leucas cephalotes rainy season weed and has been traditionally used as mild stimulant, diaphoretic and used in fever and liver disorder. The present study was carried out to investigate pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening of whole plant. Morphological studies of leaves, stem, root, flower and seed showed the presence of various diagnostic characters. In the microscopical studies, leaves showed the presence of vascular bundle, sessile glandular trichomes, palisade and anomocytic stomata. Prismatic calcium oxalate, pericycle, bicollateral vascular bundle with non distinct cambium was found in stem. Secondary xylem was abundant in root. Ash value and extractive value was determined for quality standard of drugs. Phytochemical investigation shows the presence of flavanoids, phenol, phytosterol and tannins.