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INTRODUCTION
Man has been using herbs and plant products for combating diseases since times immemorial.
The Indian subcontinent is enriched by a variety of flora both aromatic and medicinal plants.
This extensive flora has been greatly utilised as a source of many drugs in the Indian
traditional system of medicine. In India, the earliest mention of the use of medicinal plants is
to be found in Rigveda which was written between 4500-1600 1. Turmeric (Haridra) is one
such medicinal plant explained extensively in Indian material medica (Dravyaguna Sastra). It
is an auspicious beauty spot, daily applied on the forehead by Hindu females. Application of
turmeric a paste to the bride is an essential procedure of Hindu rituals 2. In Ayurveda, turmeric
has been well documented for its therapeutic potentials and described in Dashemani
Lekhaniya (emaciating), Kusthagna (Anti-dermatosis), Visaghna (Anti-poisonous)3.
HISTORY OF TURMERIC
Haridra in Sanskit means an efficacious drug for jaundice4. It is known to be one of the
oldest spices that have been used in Western and Southern parts of India for thousands of
years and is a major part of Ayurvedic medicine5. Turmeric has been used in Asia for
thousands of years and is a major part of Siddha medicine 6. It was first used as a dye and then
later for its medicinal properties7. The origin of the name is uncertain, possibly deriving from
Middle English/Modern English as turmeryte or tarmaret. Speculation exists that it may be of
Latin origin, terra merita (Merited earth)8.
S.No Components Root (%) Rhizome (%) Leaf (%) Flower (%)
Pharmacological Investigation: Turmeric and its constituents play an important role in our
life. Which are given below:
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Turmeric has been found to have a hepatoprotective characteristic similar to that of
silymarin.
The volatile oils and curcumin and turmeric exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects.
Turmeric and curcumin are also capable of suppressing the activity of several
common mutagens and carcinogens in a variety of cell types in both in vivo and in
vitro studies.
Turmeric extract and the essential oil inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria,
parasites and pathogenic fungi.
Turmeric extract reduces the incidence of cholesterol gall bladder stone formation.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Pharmacognostic evaluation
Collection and Identification of Plant Material: The plant material was collected from the
market, Sundar Nagar, H.P. The organoleptic characters of fresh rhizomes and dried rhizome
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powder like colour, odour and taste and the macroscopic characters like size, shape, surface,
fracture were evaluated as per standard WHO guidelines.
PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION
It depicts the total amount of material produced after the complete incineration of the ground
drug above 400C to remove all the carbon atoms. 2g of powdered drug was weighed and
placed in the crucible and heated at about 400C. The crucible was cooled and the % of the
total ash with reference to the air-dried sample of the crude drug was calculated12.
Total ash obtained was dissolved in 1N HCl solution and heated for 5 min. The insoluble
matter was filtered in whatman filter paper; the filter paper was further dried at 70C and then
cooled. The residue was weighed and the percentage of insoluble ash of the crude drug w.r.t.
the air dried sample of crude drug was calculated12.
To the total ash crucible, 25ml double distilled water was added and boiled for about 5min.
Insoluble matter was collected on an ash less filter paper in a crucible, washed with hot water
and ignited for about 15min above 45C. The weight of the residue is subtracted from the
weight of the total ash. Content of water soluble ash in mg/g of the air dried material was
calculated12.
2g of the air- dried coarsely powdered drug was macerated with 100ml of different solvents
in closed flasks for 24h, and are shaken frequently. The solvent was filtered and the filtrate
was weighed in a Petri dish. The dish was evaporated on a water bath and then dried in an
oven at 100C. The dish was cooled and extractible value was calculated as % (w/w) with
reference to air dried drug.
LOD is the loss in weight in % (w/w) resulting from water and volatile matter of any kind
that can be driven off under specified conditions. 1g sample is transferred to a shallow bottle
The rhizomes of Curcuma longa were collected and dried in sun for 3 days, cut into small
pieces and again dried. The upper bark of the rhizome was removed to obtain the fresh
rhizome. The dried rhizome was then grinded to obtain a fine powder. The powder was again
dried and was ready for use.
Ethanolic extraction: The grinded powder was extracted with 500ml of dehydrated
ethanol and 1000ml double distilled water respectively by Soxhlation for 72h. The
extract was concentrated at temperature <45C. The residue was dried and
refrigerated.
Aqueous extraction: The grinded powder was then extracted with 1000ml double
distilled water containing 3 or 4 drops of chloroform for 48h. The extract was then
concentrated at temperature less than 45C.The residue was then dried and
refrigerated.
(a) Mayer's test: To 2ml test solution, 2N HCl was added. The aqueous layer formed was
decanted and Mayer's reagent was added to it. A cream coloured precipitate indicates the
presence of alkaloids.
(b) Dragendroff's test: To 2ml test solution, and Dragendroff's reagent was added to it. A
reddish brown precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids.
(c) Wagner's test: To 2ml test solution, and Wagner's reagent was added to it. A reddish
brown precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids.
(d) Hager's test: To 2ml test solution, and Hager's reagent was added to it. A yellow coloured
precipitate indicates the presence of alkaloids.
(b) Legal's test: To 2ml test solution, pyridine and alkaline sodium nitroprusside was added
to obtain a blood red colour.
(a) Shinoda test: To 2ml test solution, few fragments of Magnesium ribbon were added and
to it conc. H2SO4 was added drop wise. Pink scarlet or crimson red colour appears.
(b) Zinc chloride reduction test: To 2ml test solution, a mixture of zinc dust and conc. HCl
was added. A red colour is obtained after few minutes.
(c) Alkaline reagent test: To 2ml test solution, sodium hydroxide solution was added to give
a yellow or red colour.
(a) Gelatin test: To 2ml test solution, 1% Gelatin solution containing 10% sodium chloride
was added to obtain a white precipitate.
(b) Ferric chloride test: To 2ml test solution, ferric chloride was added to give a blue green
colour.
(a) Millon's test: To 2ml test solution, Millon's reagent is added which gives a white
precipitate, which on heating changes to red.
(b) Ninhydrin test: To 2ml test solution, ninhydrin solution was added and the solution was
boiled. Amino acids and proteins when boiled with 0.2% ninhydrin reagent show a violet
colour.
(a) Stain test: Small amount of the extract was pressed between two filter papers; the stain on
the filter paper indicates the presence of fixed oils.
(b) Saponification test: Few drops of 0.5N alcoholic potassium hydroxide was added in
small quantity to the extract solution with a drop of phenolphthalein and heated on a water
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bath for 1-2h. The formation of soap or partial neutralization for the alkali indicates the
presence of fats and fixed oils.
Liebermann-Burchard test: To the test solution, 3-4 drops of acetic anhydride was added,
the solution was boiled cooled and conc. Sulphuric acid (3 drops) was added. A brown ring
appears at the junction of the two layers. The upper layer turns green showing the presence of
steroids.
Salkowski test: To the test solution 2ml chloroform was added with few drops of conc.
Sulphuric acid (3ml), and shaken well. Appearance of reddish brown colour at lower layer
indicates presence of steroids and that of yellow colour shows the presence of triterpenoids.
MICROSCOPICAL STUDIES
Fresh rhizomes of curcuma longa were subjected for the microscopical studies. The the
sections were cut by free hand sectioning. The numerous temporary and permenant mounts of
the microscopical section of the spicemen were made andexamined microscopically.
Photomicrophs of the microscopical section were taken with the help of MOTIC Digital
Microscope, provided with MOTIC IMAGE PLUS 2.0 software16,17,18.
Powder characteristics: Preliminary examination and behavior of the powder with different
chemical reagents was carried out as per reported method19,20.
Micrometry: Quantitative microscopy of the transverse sections and rhizome powder were
performed to determine the size and dimension of tissues, cell and cell content21,22.
Fluorescence analysis: Dried rhizomes were powdered and observed under visible light,
short ultra violet light, long ultra violet light after treatment with different reagents like
chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, petroleum ether, 50% sulphuric acid, 50% hydrochloric
acid, 50% nitric acid, 10% sodium hydroxide etc23.
RESULTS
9. Fracture Short
Microscopical Description: The transverse section of the rhizome shows cork as an outer
layer followed by epidermis, cortex, and endodermis and ground tissue. Cork composed of
thin walled brown cells which is large and polygonal in shape. (Fig No. 1 & 2).
H- Oil Cell
G- Vessel.
Micrometry: The results of micrometric characters of tissue, cells and cell contents were
depicted in Table No.2. Measurements of different cells are frequently necessary for the
quantitative identification of closely allied substances. In most cases these allied substances
are mixed with the original drugs as adultrants and substituents. Thus, the adulterants and/or
substituent in crude drugs can be distinguished by this way with the aid of optical
microscopy. (fig.4)
2. Cortex 30.5
3. Oleoresin 3.25
7. pH 03.00
1 Carbohydrates + ++
2 Proteins + +
3 Flavonoids + +
5 Steroids + +
6 Glycosides + +
7 Saponins + +
8 Alkaloids + +
9 Triterpenoids + ++
10 Amino acids - +
Florescence Analysis: The powder drug of the rhizome part of Curcuma longa (mesh size
40) was examined under daylight and UV light. The observation was recorded as under Table
5.
10. Powder + 5% Ferric chloride Dark Green Light green Light black
solution
11. Powder + 5% Iodine sol Light Green Green Black
CONCLUSION
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric
7. "Herbs at a Glance: Turmeric, Science & Safety". National Center for Complementary
and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institutes of Health. 2012.
9. Leela, N.K., Tava, A., Shaf, P.M., John, S.P. and Chempakam, B. (2002). Chemical
Composition of essential oils of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Acta Pharma. 52: 137-
141.
10. Jaggi Lal. (2012). Turmeric, Curcumin and Our Life: A Review. Bull. Environ.
Pharmacol. Life Sci.; Volume 1 (7) 11-17.
11. Hatcher, H., Planalp, R., Cho, J., Torti, F. M and Torti, S. V. (2008). Curcumin: From
ancient medicine to current clinical trials. Cellular and Molecular Life
Sciences. 65(11):1631-1652
12. Harborne JB. (1973). Phytochemical methods. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd, 49-
188.
13. Mukherjee PK. (2002). Quality Control of Herbal drugs. New Delhi: Business
Horizons, 186-191
14. Sofowora A. (1993). Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine in Africa. Nigeria:
Spectrum Books Ltd, Page No. 289.
15. Kokate CK, Purohit AP and Gokhale SB. (2007). Pharmacognosy, Pune, India: Nirali
Prakashan, 593-598
16. Khandelwal KR. (2006). Practical Pharmacognosy Techniques and Experiments. 15th
Edition, Pune, Nirali Prakashan, 15-163.
17. Iyengar MA and Nayak SG. (2008). Anatomy of Crude Drugs. 11th ed., Manipal;
Manipal Press Limited., 1-8.
18. Iyengar MA. (1996). Pharmacognosy of powdered crude drugs. 5th ed., Manipal;
Manipal Press. Page No. 7.
19. Evans WC. (2009).Pharmacognosy. 16th Edition., London; W.B. Saunders Company
Ltd., 541-570.
20. Mukharajee PK. (2002). Quality Control of herbal drugs. 1st ed., Business horizon
publication., Page No.186.
21. Anonymous. Indian Pharmacopoeia. (1996). Vol-II, Ministry of Health and Family
welfare, Govt of India, New Delhi; Controller of Publications., A- 53-54, A-95, A-97,
A-109.
22. Kumar D, Kumar K, Kumar S, Kumar T, Kumar A and Prakash O. (2012). Asian
Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2 (3): 169-175.
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23. Arya V, Gupta V and Gupta K. (2011). Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Research, 3 (3): 447-456.