Volume :
2
Issue :
2
Abstract :
In India, Ayurvedic, Siddha and other herbal derived products which are used either as active ingredients or as adjuvants hold paramount importance as alternative medicines but their quality evaluation poses a great challenge to practitioners and consumers. Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. f. (syn. Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm.f) O. Kuntze) of the family Lamiaceae is an important and well known medicinal plant in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicines. Considering the wide range of therapeutic applications of this plant and to ensure the identity, quality of the plant material, the present study was planned to determine the preliminary quality control parameters of Clerodendrum phlomidis leaves. Foreign organic matter, morphology, anatomy, histology, powder microscopy and proximate analysis (ash values, extractive values, loss on drying and bitterness value) were determined. Arsenic, heavy metal and microbial content were determined. Complete qualitative phytochemical analysis of successive extracts was also carried out. Plant materials are used throughout developing and also in developed countries as home remedies, over-the-counter drug products, raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, and represent a substantial proportion of the global drug market. It is therefore essential to assess their quality by using modern quality control techniques. The determined quality control parameters of Clerodendrum phlomidis leaves can used to identify and assess the quality of the raw material.