Abstract

A. Frank, G. O. Alade*, K. K. Ajibesin

ABSTRACT

As beneficial as medicinal plants in the health of populace, especially in emergent nations, their acceptance will be affected if quality cannot be assured. Quality eventually determines the safety and therapeutic value of these botanical drugs. This quality begins with proper identity of the plants. The leaves of Artocarpus camansi Blanco Moraceae are used worldwide in ethnomedicine in managing diverse diseases, so far, no pharmacopoeial standards have been established for it. This study is therefore aimed to provide some standards, pharmacognostically for A. camansi leaf in order to ensure its real identification. By employing standard methods, the macroscopy and microscopy of the leaf (fresh and dry powdered) were studied. Some physicochemical constants were also evaluated. The plant is composed of simple leaves, with entire margin, acuminate apex and a symmetrical base. The leaf is hypostomatous with anomocytic stomata, glandular trichomes with multicellular heads and unicellular stalks. The transverse section is dorsiventral with collateral vascular bundles. The established physicochemical constants such as moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulphated ash, water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives (11.0, 10.0, 2.0, 4.0, 7.3, 6.4 and 4.5w/w%, respectively) are within the ones for herbal medicine. This study is essential for establishing standards for the quality of A. camansi leaf.