Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Investigations on Vernonia anthelmintica Willd

Abstract

Medicinal plants play a vital role to preserve our health. They are the nature’s gift to human being to have disease-free healthy life. Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. (Family- Asteraceae) is an annual plant commonly known as kalijiri in India. According to Ayurveda and Unani system of medicine, it has been used extensively for treatment of some diseases like asthma, kidney troubles, inflammatory swellings, leucoderma, worm infection and convulsion. In present investigation, the detailed pharmacognostic study of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. fruit is carried out to lay down the standards which could be useful in future experimental studies. The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening and physicochemical evaluation.