Establishment of quality parameters for fruits of Crotalaria pallida Aiton. through microscopy and phytochemical studies

Crotalaria pallida Aiton. (Fabaceae), generally known as ‘smooth rattlepod’, is an Ayurvedic (Indian system of medicine) medicinal plant, traditionally used in wide range of health ailments. Despite its great significance , no work has been reported to date on pharmacognostical authentification and phytochemical standardization of fruits. We aimed to establish the anatomical, powder microscopical, physicochemical, high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and mass spectroscopy studies of C. pallida fruits. Transverse section of fruit showed the presence of lignified stone cells, palisade cells. Powder microscopy showed diagnostic characters like sclereid cells, pitted vessels, trichomes and endocarp cells. Total ash value was found to be 3.25% and acid insoluble ash was 0.2% w/w. Water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives were found to be 12.6 and 1.3% w/w, respectively. Phytochemical characterization of fruit aqueous and alcoholic extracts revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins and steroids. HPTLC analysis of chloroform and alcoholic extracts showed the presence of 9 peaks and 12 peaks, respectively, at different R f values at 254 nm. Mass spectroscopy determined the fingerprint profile of ethanolic extract of C. pallida fruits in the range of 50–1000 m/z. It is concluded that various powder microscopical and phytochemical studies observed in this study can serve as a valuable resource for authentication of C. pallida fruits.