@article{wjar2013151,
author={AUTHOR = {R.M., Dharmadasa and K, Samarasinghe and P, Adhihetty and P.L, Hettiarachchi},
title={Comparative Pharmacognostic Evaluation of <i>Munronia </i><i>P</i><i>innata</i> (Wall.) Theob. (Meliaceae) and Its Substitute <i>Andrographis </i><i>paniculata</i> (Burm.f.) Wall. Ex Nees (Acanthaceae)},
journal={World Journal of Agricultural Research},
volume={1},
number={5},
pages={77--81},
year={2013},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/wjar/1/5/1},
abstract={Background: <i>Munronia pinnata</i> (Wall) Theob. (Meliaceae), a rare, therapeutically important medicinal plant, which is often adulterated by materials of <i>Andrographis paniculata</i> (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae). However, adulteration of <i>M. pinnata</i> with <i>A. paniculata</i> without scientifically proven data on important quality standards might adversely affect the therapeutic properties of herbal drugs. Methodology: Therefore, the present study was undertaken to establish a comparative quality standards on morphological, anatomical, powder microscopical, phytochemical, physicochemical and antioxidant activity of <i>M. pinnata</i> and <i>A. paniculata </i>by using established protocols. Principal Findings: Results demonstrated that <i>M</i><i>. pinnata</i> could be distinguished from <i>A. paniculata</i> by comparing polymorphic morphological characters, anatomical and powder microscopic characters. Major phytochemical groups were present in leaves, stem and roots of both plants.<i> </i>Results of TLC exhibited the highest number of common spots in leaf (R<SUB><i>f</i></SUB> 0.10, 0.23, 0.30, 0.56, 0.86 and 0.96) followed by stem and root extracts for both <i>M. pinnata</i> and <i>A. paniculata</i>. Both plant species possess notable total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of all three parts tested. However, higher TAC was exhibited in <i>A. paniculata</i> compared to <i>M. pinnata</i>. Order of increase of TAC was leaf > stem > root for <i>M. pinnata </i>and<i> </i>stem > leaf > root for<i> A. paniculata. </i>Conclusions/Significance: The<i> </i>presence of certain similarities in major phytochemical groups, and in antioxidant capacity of <i>M. pinnata</i> and <i>A. paniculata</i> to some extent justifies the use of <i>A. paniculata</i> as a substitute for <i>M. pinnata</i> in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka which needs to be confirmed after further clinical <i>trials.</i>},
doi={10.12691/wjar-1-5-1}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}