Pharmacognostic Studies of the Leaves and Root of the Plant, Tephrosia Vogelii Hook F(Fabaceae)

Abstract

The leaves and root bark of Tephrosia vogelii Hook (Fabaceae) is also known as fish poison. The macroscopical examination of the whole leaf revealed the following; the colour is green, venation is pinnate, margin entire, apex is Lanceolate, surface is hairy and texture papery. The microscopy of the leaf powder showed numerous unicellular covering trichomes with large lumen and long slits with tapering edges and broad base, abundant single fibres with two tapering edges and somewhat twist lumen. Fragment of the lamina in transverse view revealed the leaf as a dorsal ventral leaf, composed of double palisade. The upper epidermis is bigger and thicker than the lower epidermis with a parenchyma wall, spongy mesophyll, and spiral vessels. The histology of root powder revealed the presence of Cork cells, Calcium oxalate, Fibre, Parenchymatous wall, and simple Starch grains. The phytochemical test showed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, Saponins, tannins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. Chemo-microscopical test revealed the presence of lignin, tannin, starch grains, calcium oxalate, proteins and oil glands in the leaves. The ethanol extractive value of the leaf is 2.8% while its water extractive value is 1.76%, meaning the leaf is more soluble in ethanol than water.