DNA bar-coding, pharmacognostical, and phytochemical analysis of Atalantia monophylla DC. leaves

BACKGROUND: Leaves of Atalantia monophylla DC. (Syn. Limonia monophylla L.), family Rutaceae, are traditionally used to treat rheumatoid pain, hemiplegia, itch and cutaneous complaints, cough, and as an antidote to snake bite, etc. The present study reports the detailed morphology, anatomy, genetic barcoding, physiochemical, and phytochemical aspects of A. monophylla leaves. METHODS: The sample of leaves of the plant were collected from one of its natural habitat, Athagarh forest, Odisha, India. The detailed macroscopic observations were made with naked eyes, and microscopy characters of leaf, stomatal index, and powder microscopy were done as per standard protocol. Physicochemical and qualitative preliminary phytochemical analysis, high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), and DNA bar-coding studies were carried out as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India methods and other standard guidelines. RESULTS: Leaves were opposite, unifoliate, ovate-elliptic, entire, emarginate, and glabrous. Transverse section (TS) through petiole showed epidermis, cortex, pericyclic fibers, and vascular bundles along with trichome. TS of lamina passing through midrib shows lamina with upper and lower epidermis, lignified elements, interrupted by stomata and unicellular trichome. Microscopic characteristics of the leaves powder show the presence of oil globule, rhomboidal crystal, prismatic crystal, and fragment of paracytic stomata. The result of loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water, methanol-soluble extractive, and the obtained pH values were about 10.47 ± 0.40%, 6.94 ± 0.95%, 1.00 ± 0.00%, 30.41 ± 2.26%, 7.64 ± 0.56%, and 6.6, respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis shows the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids and the HPTLC study revealed 29 spots at both short (254 nm) and long (366 nm) ultraviolet rays. CONCLUSION: Epidermal cells, oil globule, rhomboidal crystal, prismatic crystal, paracytic stomata, and simple unicellular trichome are key characters for identification of its leaves. The results obtained from pharmacognostical, phytochemical, physicochemical, and DNA bar-coding studies may serve as the diagnostic tool of A. monophylla toward its authentication and identification and also in maintaining of quality, strength, purity, and efficacy of the leaves.