Pharmacognostical Characterization & Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Leaves

Seabuckthorn (SBT; Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a thorny bush found growing wild in high altitude cold deserts of India. Present study involved pharmacognostical (Botanical and physicochemical) characterization and phytochemical investigation of SBT leaves. Botanical characterization revealed the presence of large amount of stellate trichomes. Among physicochemical parameters, total ash was found to be 6.5%, acid insoluble ash 1.5% and water soluble ash 1.1% w/w of the dried powdered leaf. Extractive values were found to be 24%, 5% and 5% for water, alcohol and ether respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoides along with various other phytochemicals. Certain characteristic parameters observed during this study may facilitate the establishment of standard quality control profile for SBT leaves. © 2011 IGJPS. All rights reserved.