Ethno-pharmacognostical Studies on Root Bark of Rubus ellipticus Smith. from Manipur

Rubus ellipticus Smith. belongs to family Rosaceae. It is one of the important ethnomedicinal plants of Manipur. The Naga tribe of Manipur uses the root bark of the said plant for curing fever since ancient times. The present study deals with comprehensive pharmacognostical studies on root bark of this plant, it includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical analysis and physicochemical parameters. Some diagnostic characters are presence of uniserriate root hairs, endodermal cells, stone cells and calcium oxalate crystals. Physicochemical studies revealed total ash (3.35%), acid insoluble ash (1.0%), water soluble ash (0.9%), alcohol soluble extractive (21.12%) water soluble extractive (25.3%) and chloroform extractive (1.3%). This will help in laying down pharmacopeial parameters.