Phytochemical Standardization and Analgesic Activity of Murdannia nudiflora (L) Brenan

Our present communication deals with physicochemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical studies and pharmacological impact of Murdannia nudiflora (L) Brenan as analgesic plant which is used in folklore uses of Assam. No reports are available on standardization parameters hence, the present attempt was undertaken to investigate the standardization parameters to establish its authenticity. The study revealed the presence of wide range of phytoconstituents. The determination of these characters will aid future investigators in their Pharmacological analysis of this species. 

The whole 8 pages article is available for download here.

The history of herbal medicines is as old as human civilization. Almost one fourth of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from botanicals. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of the world’s population presently uses herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Murdannia nudiflora (L) Brenan is a herb belonging to family Commelinaceae. It is a slender, nearly smooth, creeping annual or perennial herb. The stem is simple to branched 15-30 cm long, reclining on the ground with rooting at the nodes. The roots are fibrous. The leaves are rather thick, linear to linear oblong, alternate, narrowed into a base sheath, entire, acute, tapering to a point with sides incurved, measuring 3-10 cm long and 4-10 mm wide.  Widely  distributed  in  India;  found  in  wet  places,  paddy fields,  marshes,  along  ditches  and  in  shady,  grassy places,  an  aggressive  weed  in  parts  of  West  Indies; Stems  decumbent  below  and  ascending  above, branch lets reddish  with  white nodes, flowers clustered in terminal or axillary cymes, blue or pinkish. Used locally in the treatment of asthma, leprosy and piles stomach complaints, giddiness, and astringent. Root paste with goat milk is prescribed orally to cure asthma.  Whole  plant  paste  with  common  salt  is applied  on  the  affected  area  to  cure  leprosy.

The present investigation deals with the study of some physicochemical characteristic and its establishment as analgesic plant. 

The whole 8 pages article is available for download here.