Pharmacognostic Biological and Phytochemical Evaluation of Dicerma biarticulatum DC ssp biarticulatum H Ohasi Fabaceae

Abstract

The thesis entitled Pharmacognostic, Biological and Phytochemical Evaluation of Dicerma biarticulatum DC ssp. biarticulatum H.Ohasi (FABACEAE) deals with pharmacognostic, biological and phytochemical evaluation of a commonly occurring weed. A perusal of the literature showed that only very fragmentary information was available on the weed when compared to the voluminous work on Desmodium. Paucity of information for Dicerma and logical expectations of potential pharmacological efficacies for the plant form the rationale for the present study. The chapter on Pharmacognostic evaluation deals with the macroscopic and microscopic features, quantitative microscopy, histochemical and analytical evidences and powder analysis of the whole plant. The external features of these two genera formed the basis for the segregation of the genera by Ohasi (1973). Evidences from other areas of information were lacking in support of the taxonomic status of Dicerma. The present study has provided a protocol of the distinguishing features of the plant from Desmodium species. The phytochemical constituents isolated from the plant Dicerma biarticulatum DC. ssp. biarticulatum H. Ohasi are a first time report from this plant. In conclusion, this study has provided a scientific evaluation of a common weed and has thrown light on the taxonomic circumscription of Dicerma in relation to Desmodium. Dicerma had been considered to be a member of Desmodium for a long time. Its erection as an independent taxon after the studies of Ohasi, 1973 has been affirmed by the present investigation. The pharmacognostic features, physicochemical constants, preliminary phytochemical studies and HPTLC fingerprint profiles have been useful for deciding the identity, purity and strength of the plant material and also for fixing standards for this plant. The biological activities prove the therapeutic efficacy of the plant. Thus the present study will certainly help to build a monograph of the plant in the Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.