Abstract

Globba marantina Linn., an extra pharmacopoeial plant of Ayurveda, locally known as chhota rasna by tribal people of Orissa, belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. Ethnomedicinally roots and leaves of G. marantina is claimed to be used in the management of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cough, cold, snakebite and others. Though used traditionally, no proper scientific evaluation of this plant for its pharmacognostical characters has been reported. Hence, the present study has been performed to establish the root and leaf of the plant for its microscopical and physicochemical characters along with different qualitative tests, as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Powder microscopy of the root shows ample amount of starch grain, prismatic crystal, lignified fiber, scalariform vessel whereas that of leaf shows monocot type III stomata, ample amount of prismatic crystal, fiber and covering trichome. Surface study shows presence of more number of stomata as well as stomatal index, in lower surface, in comparison to upper surface. Physicochemical parameters shows higher moisture content in leaf sample (9.8060±0.0265% w/w) than the root sample (9.505±0.465% w/w) and water soluble extractive value of both the samples has been found more in comparison to alcohol soluble extractive value. The observed data can be helpful to identify and standardize root and leaf of G. marantina.