Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Pandanus fascicularis known as Ketaki in Ayurveda is an important medicinal plant. The roots are used in ayurveda for the treatment of diabetes, wounds, ulcers, dyspepsia, osteo-arthritis and otalgia to name a few. The present study provided taxonomic characters of the plant, pharmacognostial and physicochemical details of the adventitious roots which will help in laying down pharmacopoeial parameters. The diagnostic characters like the presence of tubercles on the outer surface, bark papery and peeling off, presence of aerenchyma in cortex, sclerenchymatous bundles in cortex and pith, pith canals and reddish cell contents in pith region help in the identification of the drug. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates and glycosides in acetone, ethanol and aqueous extracts, phytosterols, fixed oils and fats in pet. ether and benzene extracts, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, proteins and amino acids in ethanol and aqueous extracts and saponins in aqueous extract. Alkaloids, gums and mucilage were totally absent in all extracts. HPTLC profile of alcohol and aqueous extracts will help in identification of the drug and also in isolating and identifying the biomarker compound responsible for the bioactivity.

Key words: Pandanus fascicularis, adventitious roots, pharmacognosy, HPTLC profile