Pharmacognostical Standardization and Isolation of Ergosterol from Melothria maderaspatana Linn

Figures & data

Figure 1 Whole plant of M. maderaspatana. (Color figure available online.)

Figure 2 Transverse section of the basal region of petiole (a), schematic diagram of basal region of petiole (b), and isolated elements of the petiole (c). In Fig. 2a: Col: collenchyma; Cu: cuticle; Epi: epidermis; Par: parenchyma; Par.cort: parenchymatous cortex; Phl: phloem; Scl: sclerenchyma; Scl₁: sclerenchymatous pericycle; Scl₂: cortical parenchyma tendency of thickening; Tri: trichome; Xv: xylem vessel; Xyl: xylem. In Fig. 2c: a–b: xylem vessels; c–e: fibres; f: trichome; g: parenchyma.

Figure 3 Transverse section of midrib region of leaf (a), schematic diagram of tendril (b), and trichomes and xylem vessel in isolated elements of leaf (c). In Fig. 3a: A1: midrib and part of lamina; A2: lamina; A3: margin of lamina; Col: collenchyma; Epi: epidermis; L.Epi: lower epidermis; Pal: palisade cells; Par: parenchyma; Phl: phloem; Pi: pith; S.P: spongy parenchyma; Scl: sclerenchyma; St: stomata; Tri: trichome; U.Epi: upper epidermis; V: vessel; Xyl: xylem. In Fig. 3c: a–c: trichomes of basal region of midrib; d–e: trichomes of middle region of midrib; f–h: trichomes of apical region of midrib; i–j: trichomes and xylem vessel in isolated elements.

Table 1  Numerical values of the leaf of M. maderaspatana

Numerical value	Average value
Epidermal cell count
Upper	1000
Lower	1400
Stomatal number (lower surface)	347
Stomatal index (lower surface)	20
Palisade ratio	7
Vein-islet number	15
Veinlet termination number	17

Figure 4 Transverse section of mature stem (a) and isolated elements of mature stem (b). In Fig. 3b: Camb: cambium; C.c: cork cambium; Col: collenchyma; M.r: medullary rays; Par: parenchyma; Par.scl: parenchymatous sclerenchyma; Sec.cort: secondary cortex; Xv: xylem vessel; Xyl: xylem. In Fig. 3b: a–d: xylem vessels; e–h: fibres; i–j: tracheids; k: xylem parenchyma; l: trichome.

Figure 5 Transverse section of the mature root (a) and isolated elements of the mature root (b). In Fig. 4a: Ck: cork; Phl: phloem; M.r: medullary rays; Sec.cort: secondary cortex; S.g: starch grain; Xv: xylem vessel; Xyl: xylem. In Fig. 4b: a: part of cortex; b: xylem parenchyma; c: cork fragments; d–h: fibres; i–j: stone cells; k–m: tracheids; n–o: xylem vessels; p: starch grain.

Table 2  Physicochemical standards

Physicochemical standards	%w/w
Total ash	38.50
Acid insoluble ash	16.90
Water soluble extractive value	17.90
Alcohol soluble extractive values	5.60
Values are taken as mean of triplicate.

Table 3  Fluorescence characteristics

Treatment	Fluorescence
Powder as such	Light green
Powder treated with nitrocellulose in amyl acetate	Reddish brown
Powder treated with 1N NaOH in methanol	Yellowish green
Powder treated with 1N NaOH in methanol, dried and mounted in nitrocellulose in amyl acetate	Brownish green
Powder treated with 1N HCL	Light green
Powder treated with 1N HCL, dried and mounted in nitrocellulose in amyl acetate	Dark green
Powder treated with 1N NaOH in water	Dark green
Powder treated with HNO3 (1:1)	Blackish green
Powder treated with H2SO4 (1:1)	Blackish green

Table 4  Preliminary phytochemical screening

	Fractions
Phytoconstituents	Hexane	Chloroform	Ethyl acetate	Methanol
Steroids	+ve	+ve	−ve	−ve
Triterpenes	+ve	−ve	+ve	−ve
Flavanoids	+ve	−ve	+ve	+ve
Coumarins	−ve	−ve	+ve	+ve
Reducing sugars	+ve	+ve	+ve	+ve
Proteins	−ve	+ve	+ve	+ve
Alkaloids	−ve	+ve	+ve	+ve
Tannins	−ve	−ve	+ve	+ve
Phenolics	−ve	−ve	+ve	+ve
Glycosides	+ve	−ve	+ve	+ve
Saponins	−ve	−ve	−ve	−ve
+ve indicates presence and −ve indicates absence.

Figure 6 Structures of (a) β–sitosterol and (b) ergosterol.