title: Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malvastrum coromandelianum belongs to the family Malvaceae, commonly known as false mallow. Ethnobotanical survey revealed that it is used to treat various disorders. Pharmacological screening revealed that the plant possess antinoceceptive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial activities. Lack of standardization parameters for herbal raw material is a great hindrance in ensuring the purity of M. coromandelianum. The present work was taken up to with a focus to set standardization parameters for M. coromandelianum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plant was subjected to macroscopic and microscopic studies. Physicochemical parameters such as ash value and extractive value were determined by standard procedures. Different extracts were screened for the presence of secondary metabolites. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated. Plant was subjected for high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis using standard chromatographic procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microscopic characteristics showed the dorsiventral nature of leaf. Two types of trichomes were observed: Covering, unicellular, uniseriate, and bi-cellular head sessile glandular. Vascular bundle was surrounded by spongy parenchyma. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence alkaloids, tannins, amino acid proteins, and carbohydrates. The phenolic and flavonoid content estimation revealed the presence of appreciable amount of these constituents, while HPTLC analysis showed the presence of β-sitosterol in petroleum ether extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings will be useful for the establishment of standardization parameters for M. coromandelianum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Dhirendra B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sanghai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S Vijaya
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Aswatharam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shreedhara
keywords: Malvastrum coromandelianum; high performance thin layer chromatography analysis; phytochemical screening; total flavonoid; total phenolic; β-sitosterol