Pharmacognostical Characterization of Lawsonia inermis Linn. Leaves

Abstract

Traditional herbal medicine has been serving a crucial function in primary healthcare on a global scale. Recent research indicates that studies on traditional herbal medicine have been rising steadily each year since 1990, accompanied by a corresponding increase in global citations over this timeframe. The unproven legacy of these herbal medicines is now being proved on scientific lines. Recent uptrend in conducting researches in herbal systems of medicine have resulted in increased demand of herbal medicinal plants in the global phytomedicine market. As the demand increased chances of misidentification and adulteration of crude drugs have also escalated, which could potentially endanger the health and safety of the consumers. Therefore, proper identification and pharmacognostical evaluation of crude medicinal plants is required. In this regard pharmacognostical evaluation holds immense significance in the realm of medicinal plants and hence this study was initiated on Lawsonia inermis Linn., to evaluate the pharmacognostical features for proper identification like finding various morphological and microscopic characteristics of the leaves. Various leaf constants (Stomatal index, Stomatal number, Palisade ratio and vein-islet number, Vein termination number) were also analysed. Proper pharmacognostic identification of Lawsonia inermis may be instrumental in conducting further researches on this plant.