INVESTIGATION OF MICROSCOPICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS WITH ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY

Herbal medicines are gaining more and more attention all over the world, due to their long historical clinical usage and comparatively less side effects. Standardization of herbal drugs and their quality control is needed with proper integration of modern scientific techniques and traditional knowledge. The analysis and quality control of herbal medicines are moving towards an integrative and comprehensive direction, in order to better address the inherent holistic nature of herbal medicines. The techniques used in standardization of plant material include its morphological, anatomical and biochemical characteristics. The present study highlights the pharmacognostical studies including parameters such as powder analysis by microscopical evaluation, and study of physicochemical parameters i.e. proximate analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening of seed kernel of Caesalpinia bonducella Linn. and fruits and roots of Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. which are used as antidiabetic agents. The present study, thus, will help to provide important information with respect to the proper identification of the plant for utilization in different herbal products.