Muhammad et al., Nig. Journ. Pharm. Sci., September, 2017, Vol. 16 No.

2, P61-67

Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Vol. 16, No2, 2017, ISSN: 0189-823X
2
All Rights Reserved

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STANDARDIZATION OF BOMBAX COSTATUM PELLEGR

AND VUILLET STEM BARK (BOMBACACEAE)

*Muhammad, Z. H., Ambi, A. A., Ahmed, A., and Ayeni, E.A

Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria-

Nigeria

*Author for correspondence: zainabkidah89@gmail.com Tel: + 2347031387295

ABSTRACT

Bombax costatum (Pellegr and Vuillet), commonly called red-flowered silk cotton tree or red kapok tree. It is
known in Hausa as Gujjiya or Kurya, Fulfulde as Joohi or Kuruhi and in Nupe as Kutupkaci. It is used
traditionally in the treatment of infectious diseases, ulcer, epilepsy, wound healing and inflammations but with
little knowledge on the pharmacognostic standards. The study established some important pharmacognostic
standards of B. costatum stem bark with the aim of achieving its proper identification as well as standardization
for quality and purity. The preparation of the fresh and powdered samples of the stem bark was carried out
according to WHO guideline on method of assessing crude drug. The macroscopic and organoleptic evaluation
showed grey brown corky bark, with typical conical, stout, sharp-pointed spines, easily breakable, has a
characteristic taste and smell. The microscopy shows the presence of epidermis, endodermis, xylem, phloem,
cortex, pith, cambium, and vessels. Chemo-microscopy revealed the presence of cellulose and lignified cell
wall, suberin, mucilage, starch, inulin and crystal-type calcium oxalate. The physicochemical parameters were:
moisture content (13.40%0.68), total ash value (9.66%0.28), acid insoluble ash (1.50%0.50), water soluble
ash (2.66%0.76), ethanol extractive value (15.00%1.41), and water extractive value (14.50%1.29).
Micrometry showed calcium oxalate crystals (length 60.80m8.49, breadth 43.7m5.20) and fibre (length
613.70m 61.05, breadth 20.9m 7.94). The study evaluated the pharmacognostic standards of B. costatum
and the macroscopic, microscopic, as well as the physico-chemical parameters which will be useful for the
compilation of a suitable monograph on B. costatum and guide towards its pharmaceutical utilization.

Keywords: Bombax costatum, Macroscopic, Microscopy, Physico-chemical parameters, standardization

INTRODUCTION diameter. It is a plant little cultivated but

Bombax costatum belongs to the family
Bombacaceae (Burkill, 1985) and is
commonly called red-flowered silk-cotton
tree or red kapok tree. In Nigeria, it is
locally known as Kurya or Gujjiya in Hausa,
Joohi or Kuruhi in Fulfulde and Kutupkaci
in Nupe. It is a deciduous tree growing
straight up to about 30 m tall and 100 cm in
protected by local people for many uses as
food, medicines and other economic
importance. Medicinal plants have played a
key role in world health including
developing countries. In spite of the great
advances observed in modern medicine in
recent decades, plants still make an
important contribution to health care
(Calixto and Barz, 2000). However, the use

61
of herbal remedies is on the increase with
concern and uncertainty about the quality,
safety and efficacy of these remedies.
There is also the problem of incorrect
diagnosis, imprecise dosage, and low
hygiene standards, lack of regulation of
herbal medicines in many countries,
ineffective monitoring and control of the
sales of unregistered products (De-Smet,
1995). It is therefore essential to lay down
the pharmacognostic specifications of
medicinal plants which are used as drugs.
Bombax costatum ethno botanical survey
showed that the root bark of the plant is used
in treating infectious diseases, including
sexually transmitted diseases (Magassouba
et al., 2007). The fruit was reported to have
antioxidant activity (Cook et al., 1998). The
macerated powder of the root is used in
curing epilepsy and also the stem bark
preparations promote wound healing (Orwa
et al., 2009). Antwi-Adjei, (2016) reported
the anti-inflammatory activity of the stem
bark. A cold decocted formulation of leaves
and twigs is given to animals with piles
(Par et al., 2010). However, no
pharmacognostic standards on the stem bark
of B. costatum and hence the aim of the
present study is to establish the
pharmacognostic profile of B. costatum stem
bark.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection, Identification and Preparation
of the Plant Material
The fresh stem bark of B. costatum was
collected from the well grown and matured
trees from Kudingi forest, Sabon Gari Local
Government Area Zaria, Kaduna State in
February 2017. The plant was first
taxonomically authenticated at the
Herbarium Unit of the Department of
Botany, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,
Nigeria with a Voucher specimen number
90005. The stem bark was dusted, cleaned,
air-died and was pulverized to coarse
powder using a clean mortar and pestle. The
coarse powdered stem bark sample was
stored in an air-tight container for
subsequent use.
Microscopic Evaluation
The microscopic evaluation of the
anatomical section and powdered sample of
the stem bark were carried out using
standard methods (Brain and Turner, 1975;
Evans, 2009). The prepared sections were
cleared using 70% Sodium hypochlorite
solution and mounted on a microscope slide,
using dilute glycerol. This was then
observed under the light microscope (Rating
85, 65V) and appropriate images (using
x100 mag.) were taken and documented.
The micrometric diagnostic features were
also measured.
Chemo Microscopic Examination
The histochemical detection of cell wall
components of the powdered stem bark such
as cellulose cell wall, lignin, starch, suberin,
tannins and calcium oxalate, calcium
carbonate, gums and mucilages were carried
out using standard methods Kokate (2003)
and Evans (2009).
Physicochemical Parameters
Physicochemical analysis such as water and
alcohol soluble extractives, total ash, acid
insoluble ash, water soluble ash and
moisture content were also determined
following the procedures outlined by Evans
(2009) and WHO (2011).
62
RESULTS
Table 1: Macroscopic and Microscopic features of Bombax costatum stem bark
Macroscopic/Organoleptic Physical characteristics
Colour Grey brown
Stem bark height 5.00-8.00cm
Stem width 3.00-5.00cm
Thickness 0.50-1.00 cm
Taste and odour Charactersitics
Texture Corky, with typical conical, stout, sharp-
pointed spines and easily breakable

Transverse section Epidermal layer, xylem, phloem, cortex,

cambium, pith, and vessels.

Plate 1: Bombax costatum in its Natural habitat Plate 2: Bombax costatum stem bark

Chemo-microscopic examination of the lignified cell wall, tannins, starch, calcium

powdered stem bark sample of B. costatum oxalate, suberin, mucilage and inulin (Table
revealed the presence of cellulose cell wall, 2).

63
Table 2: Chemo-microscopic evaluation of Bombax costatum
Constituents Inference
Cellulose cell wall +
Lignified cell wall +
Suberin +
Mucilage +
Starch +
Calcium oxalate +
Calcium carbonate -
Inulin +
Key: Present (+); Absent (-)

Epidermis
Vessels
Phloem

Xylem
Pericycle

Cambium
Cortex
Pith

Plate 3: Transverse section of the stem bark of Bombax costatum (X100 Mag.)

Table 3: Micrometric Evaluation of Bombax costatum

Character Observation
Length Width

Calcium oxalate 60.80m8.49 43.7m5.20

Fibre 613.70m 61.05 20.9m 7.94

Results expressed as Mean SEM from five observations

64
 Calcium
oxalate
crystals

Fibres

Plate 4: Calcium oxalate crystals and fibres of the stem bark of Bombax costatum (X100 Mag.)
le 4: Physicochemical Parameters of Bombax costatum Stem bark
Parameters Obtained values (%w/w)
Moisture content 13.40%0.68
Ethanol extractive value 15.00%1.41
Water extractive value 14.50%1.29
Total ash 9.66%0.28
Acid insoluble ash 1.50%0.50
Water soluble ash 2.66%0.76
Results expressed as Mean SEM from five observations.

DISCUSSION showed the presence of thin walled and

From the results above, Bombax costatum at
maturity was about 5.00-8.00cm in height,
3.00-5.00cm in width and the thickness was
0.50-1.00cm. The stem bark has a grey
brown colour, corky with typical conical
stout, sharp-pointed spines, easily breakable
with distinct odour characteristic taste. These
macroscopic and organoleptic features are in
lined with the findings of Shadma et al.,
(2012); Pankaj et al., (2014); Rameshwar et
al., (2014); Antwi-Adjei, (2016) that reported
similar morphological features in some
species of Bombaceae family and this could
be a general characteristic found in the
family. Also, the transverse section revealed
the epidermal layer, xylem, phloem, cortex,
cambium, pith and vessels. The cortex region
medium size parenchyma and noticeable
vessels.
The chemo-microscopy showed the
presences of cellulose cell wall, lignified cell
wall, suberin, mucilage, starch, inulin and
crystal-type calcium oxalate with the
micrometry dimension of 60.80m in length
and 43.7m in width. There was also
prominent fibre of 613.70 m in length and
20.90 m in width (Table 3). These findings
are in lined with Shantha et al., (2009);
Shadma et al., (2012) and Rameshwar et al.,
(2014).
Kunle et al., (2012) also reported the need to
established pharmacognostic standards in
medicinal plants towards targeting prevention
of adulteration.

65
Furthermore, the physicochemical parameters
assessed the moisture content, total ash, acid
insoluble, water soluble, alcohol and water
extractives values (Table 4) revealed the
moisture content (13.40%) which is relatively
high when compared with BHP, (1990) that
reported that percentage of moisture content
in any crude drug should be within 12-14 %.
However, the value obtained was within the
permissible limit but microorganism and
fungi could grow on the B. costatum stem
bark and affect it natural characteristics. The
total ash value (9.66%), water soluble
(2.66%), acid insoluble (1.50%) indicated
some levels of contaminations in the crude
drugs and other inorganic matters that may be
associated with the stem bark. This could be
reduced with detection and removal of
foreign materials in its utilization as crude
drug. The ethanol extractive value (15.00%)
and water extractive value (14.50%) showed
that both water and alcohol potentials in the
extraction of the active constituents. Tiwari
and Mishra (2011) stated that solvent choice
in research involving plant depend on
phytochemicals to be extracted as well as the
cost and easy access of the solvents.
However, these physicochemical parameters
are similar with findings of Shadma et al.,
(2012) on Bombax ceiba.
CONCLUSION
The pharmacognostic standards for the stem
bark of B. costatum will be useful for the
compilation of suitable monograph and also
serve as a basis for detection of impurities
and adulterants in the crude drugs that could
further enhanced its medicinal and
pharmaceutical utilizations.
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