WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Gayathri Devi V., Anitha John, Natarajan M., Neethu Kannan B. and Kanagarajan A.

ABSTRACT

Myristica fragrans Houtt., commonly known as Jaiphal and Javitri in India, belongs to the family Myristicaceae. Objective of the present study is to generate information based on botanical, physico-chemical and HPTLC data needed for proper identification and authentication of seed and aril of Myristica fragrans. The botanical study comprises of macroscopic analysis and powder microscopic studies of the two plant materials. The physico-chemical parameters such as loss on drying at 105?, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, water soluble extractive, pH of water extract, alcohol soluble extractive, fibre content, swelling index, foaming index and volatile oil were determined by following standard methods. HPTLC studies of the defatted chloroform extracts of the seed and aril were conducted at 254 nm, 366 nm and 575 nm after derivatisation using vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and the results were documented. The study shows that macroscopy, powder microscopy and most of the physico-chemical parameters of both the plant materials are different. HPTLC studies reveal that there are so many compounds having the same Rf values and colour indicating the presence of similar compounds in both the plant materials. The bands which are not common indicate that the corresponding compounds are different. It is also observed that larger numbers of phytochemicals are present in seed than aril. The given results help in accurate identification of these medicinally important plant materials by pharmacognostical and chemical methods.