Quality assessment of Achyranthas aspera Linn. seed

Abstract

Achyranthas aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) seeds were studied to determine the various parameters for pharmacognostical standards. The whole plant of A. aspera is reported to have good medicinal values in traditional systems of medicine. The present paper deals with pharmacognostical examination of morphological and microscopical characters and physic-chemical investigations of seeds including determination of loss on drying, ash values, extractives values, foreign organic matter, crude fiber content, and hemolytic activity. The preliminary phytochemical screening, elemental analysis, microbial contamination of powdered drug, were also carried
out. High performance thin layer chromatography profile developed for the seeds was to aid in identification of the drug and also in isolating and identifying the biomarker compound responsible for the bioactivity.
Key words: Achyranthas aspera, amaranthaceae, apamarg, elemental analysis