A Comprehensive Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Physicochemical standardization of the stem bark of Filicium decipiens

Traditional medicines are well known for their affordability and easy accessibility. They are also best source for treatment for poor communities as primary health care. Uses of medicinal plants are as old as 4000-5000 B.C. long before people were depending on herbal plants for their medicinal uses. Earlier reference of medicinal plant usage has been reported in Rig-Veda later ancient records also documented in detail its practice by physicians (an indigenous system of medicine)¹. Medicinal plants are important components of indigenous medical systems and serve as valuable sources of secondary metabolites. It is used for drug development and synthesis. Medicinal plants play vital role in the development of human culture around the world. Herbal medicines reduce the use of chemical remedies³. They possess low occurrence of side effects and problematic effects⁴. There have been tremendous increases in past two decades in the usage of herbal medicine. However, there is large scope for research data in this field⁵. Natural products have been in use all over the world by as for example in Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, kampo, traditional Korean medicine and Unani. Though, there may be areas that need validation in there systems, they are valuable clues for further research. The World Health Organization (WHO) found significance of herbal medicines and created strategies, guidelines and standards for botanical medicines, applied for cultivation and manufacture⁶.

Filicium Decipiens (fern tree) belongs to the sapindaceae family. It is a large tree up to 25m tall. It is found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, which is native to Sri Lanka, the Western Ghats of southern India, and small highland areas of East Africa. Filicium Decipiens is traditionally used as anti-diabetic agent in India and Sri Lanka⁷. In Indonesia, the tree is known as “kiarapayung” locally and commonly cultivated in gardens and roadsides as ornamental, noise barrier and windbreak plant⁸.

The wood is reddish brown, occasionally with darker lines, heavy, hard, straight gained, and fine- and even-textured. The fractionation of ethyl acetate stem bark extracts by column chromatography led to the isolation of one compound such as stigmasta-7, 22-dien-3-ol (Spinasterol) ⁹. The Dichloromethane extract of the stem of Filicium Decipiens yielded a new natural product 24 norneohopa-4(23),22(29)-diene-3β,6β,7β-triol 7-caffeate (1)¹⁰.

Taxonomical Classification: ¹¹

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Angiosperms

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Sapindales

Family: Sapindaceae

Genus: Filicium

Species: F. decipiens

Synonyms: Filicium decipiens

                    Filicium elongatum Radlk.ex Taub.

                    Jurighas decipiens (Wight & Arn.) kuntze

                    Rhus decipiens Wight & Arn.

                    Pteridophyllum decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thwaites

Vernacular Names:-^12-14

English: - Fern tree, soap berry.

Sinhala: - Pihimbiya.

Tamil: -   Chitteraivempu, Kattupuvarasu, Ningal, Athadali, Eruvillipaalai.

Malayalam: - Irumbarakki, Neeroli, Valmuriccha, Muriccha, Sanimaram, attali.

Kannada: - Kaadu hoovarasi, neeroli.

Telugu: - Patta kunkudu.

1. MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection of plant material:

In November 2025, the plant material was collected from Botanical garden of Bharathi College Bharathinagara, Karnataka, India. The plant was identified and authenticated by Dr.Thejesh Kumar, HOD, Department of Botany, and Bharathi College Bharathinagara. A herbarium voucher specimen was prepared and preserved in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Bharathi College of Pharmacy, Bharathinagara, for future reference.

Drying and size reduction of the stem bark:

 Filicium decipiens stem bark were collected and shade-dried at room temperature until they reached a consistent weight. The dried material was then coarsely ground with a mechanical grinder, passed through sieve No. 80 to achieve a consistent particle size, and stored in an airtight container in a cool and dry environment for further experimental tests.

2. Experimental Procedures:-
   1. Macroscopical studies:

The stem bark of Filicium decipiens was examined macroscopically to determine their colour, texture, size, shape, fracture, odour, and taste. The crude drug was evaluated with the naked eye by placing the individual raw samples on a clean white paper surface for proper observation and assessment.

1. 2. Microscopical studies:     

Microscopic analysis offers a thorough examination of the plant material, allowing the identification of organized drugs based on their histological characteristics. Enlarging minute structures provides comprehensive information on crude medicine and helps validate the structural characteristics of the plant material being studied.

Qualitative Microscopy

Transverse section of the stem bark

To prepare thin transverse sections, fresh Filicium decipiens stem bark were collected, washed thoroughly with water, and sectioned from the middle portion of the lamina. These thin sections were kept in water to preserve their moistness. To make interior structures more visible, staining agents such as safranin, Phloroglucinol, and diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) were applied. ^{[15, 16]}

Powder Microscopy

A few drops of chloral hydrate were applied to a glass slide containing a small amount of stem bark powder. After that, the slide was heated to prevent the chloral hydrate from evaporating. A coverslip was carefully placed to avoid air bubbles, and excess chloral hydrate was removed using blotting paper. The sample was stained with Phloroglucinol and concentrated HCl to confirm lignified tissues. A mixture of Phloroglucinol and concentrated HCl (1:1 ratio) was applied on a separate slide, and the Preparation was examined under the microscope. ^{[15, 16]}

Quantitative Microscopy

Quantitative microscopy is crucial for identifying, characterizing, and standardizing crude drugs and determining their cellular content. The quality and purity of the plant material can be assessed using several crucial metrics.

Physicochemical constants:

 Physicochemical parameters were determined according to the standard procedures prescribed in the Indian Pharmacopoeia. The evaluated parameters included ash value, extractive values, loss on drying, fluorescent analysis, and foaming index.

Preliminary phytochemical studies:

Preliminary phytochemical screening of the stem bark of Filicium decipiens was carried out using standard procedures described by Kokate C.K., Purohit A.P., and Gokhale S.B. The tests were performed to identify the presence of various phytochemical constituents in the plant material.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Macroscopical studies:

 

 

Fig. 1.1 A. Measurement of Stem Bark

 

    

 

 

 

Fig.1.4. Transverse section of stem Bark showing cork, cortex, medullary ray, stone cells, crystals of calcium oxalate

 

 

Fig.1.5. Powder microscopy of Filicium decipiens Stem Bark A) Cork cells in surface view, B) Stone cell, C) Stone cells with brownish content & D) Sclereids fibre, E) Prismatic crystals in visible light F) Prismatic crystals under polarizer G) Brownish content H) Simple starch grain I) Bi-compound starch grains (15-20um)

 

 

Fig.1.6. The graph illustrate the ash value of Filicium decipiens stem bark, including  total ash, acid insoluble ash, eater soluble ash, sulphated ash. Among the evaluated parameters sulphated ash showed the highest value (13.11%w/w), while acid insoluble ash was comparatively lower (0.88%w/w) indicating minimal contamination with siliceous matter.

 

 

Fig.1.7.Graphical representation of extractive value (Graph shows higher amount of compound dissolves in alcohol than the water).

DISCUSSION

The present investigation established detailed Pharmacognostical, physicochemical, fluorescence, and preliminary phytochemical standards for the stem bark of Filicium decipiens. The generated data may serve as important reference parameters for authentication, identification, and quality control of the crude drug.

Macroscopical evaluation revealed characteristic organoleptic features such as rough bark texture, whitish-grey outer surface, brownish-orange inner surface, and slightly astringent taste, which are useful for preliminary identification of the plant material. Microscopical examination of the transverse section demonstrated diagnostic anatomical features including multi-layered cork cells, parenchymatous cortex, stone cells, fibre sclereids, starch grains, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals, and Multiseriate medullary rays. These anatomical structures are considered important pharmacognostic markers for authentication of stem bark drugs. Powder microscopy further confirmed the presence of polygonal cork cells, lignified stone cells, fibre sclereids, starch grains, and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals under visible and polarized light. Such microscopic characteristics are highly useful for identification of powdered crude drugs and detection of adulteration in herbal materials.

Physicochemical evaluation revealed that the moisture content of the powdered stem bark was within acceptable limits, indicating proper drying and reduced susceptibility to microbial spoilage during storage. The total ash value was found to be 12.44% w/w, indicating the presence of physiological inorganic constituents in the plant material. The acid-insoluble ash value was comparatively low (0.88% w/w), suggesting minimal contamination with siliceous matter such as sand and soil. Water-soluble ash and sulphated ash values were recorded as 2.66% w/w and 13.11% w/w, respectively, reflecting the inorganic mineral composition of the bark tissue. The alcohol-soluble extractive value (20% w/w) was higher than the water-soluble extractive value (12% w/w), indicating that alcoholic solvents extracted a greater proportion of phytoconstituents from the stem bark. Higher alcohol-soluble extractive values generally indicate the abundance of polar and moderately polar bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, glycosides, and saponins.

The foaming index was found to be greater than 1000, as persistent foam greater than 1 cm was observed in all test tubes, confirming the significant presence of saponins in the stem bark powder. Fluorescence analysis of the powdered drug treated with different reagents exhibited characteristic colour changes under daylight, 254 nm, and 366 nm ultraviolet light, which may serve as useful parameters for identification and quality evaluation of the crude drug. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, and proteins in various solvent extracts of the stem bark. Among all extracts, the methanolic extract showed the maximum number of phytoconstituents, indicating its effectiveness in extracting biologically active secondary metabolites. These phytoconstituents are widely associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and ant diabetic activities, which may correlate with the traditional medicinal uses of Filicium decipiens.

Overall, the present findings provide comprehensive Pharmacognostical and physicochemical standards for the stem bark of Filicium decipiens and may serve as valuable reference data for identification, authentication, standardization, and future pharmacological investigations of the plant.

CONCLUSION

The present investigation successfully establishes detailed Pharmacognostical, phytochemical and physic-chemical standards for the stem bark of Filicium decipiens. The study highlights distinctive macroscopic, microscopic, and powder characteristics that can be effectively used for identification and authentication of the crude drug. Physicochemical parameters and extractive values confirm the quality, purity and suitability of the plant material for medicinal use. The presence of bioactive phytoconstituents such as glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins supports its traditional therapeutic applications.

These findings contribute significantly to the standardization and quality control of Filicium decipiens and provide a scientific basis for its inclusion in herbal pharmacopoeias. Furthermore, the study lays a foundation for future research focusing on isolation, characterization and pharmacological evaluation of active constituents from the stem bark.

Acknowledgement

My profound appreciation goes out to the Bharathi Education Trust in Bharathinagara, Mandya, and Karnataka for their priceless assistance. For their unwavering support, I am grateful to Mr. Prem Kumar, research officer CSMCARI, Chennai.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 No conflicts of interest.

Funding status

The authors declare that no funding was received for this work.

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