Pharmacognostical, Physicochemical and Phytochemical studies of different varieties of Beet root grown in Punjab

 

Neeraj Bainsal¹*, Simranjeet Kaur², Sudhanshu Mallan²

¹Assistant Prof., Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, India.

²Student, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Objective: The current study aims was carried out for Pharmacognostical, Physicochemical and phytochemical screening of three varieties viz. maritima, altissima, alba of Beta vulgaris grown in Ludhiana, Punjab. Methods: As a part of Pharmacognostical studies macroscopic and powder microscopic studies was performed. Loss on drying, Ash content (Total ash, Acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash), pH of aqueous extract, Extractive value (Pet. Ether, methanol, water) was performed under Physicochemical analysis. The dried powders were subjected to solvent extraction for preliminary secondary metabolites analysis and fluorescence study done with root powder. Results: The powder microscopy for the roots shows fibers and vacuoles in var. alba. Xylem and phloem are present forming cambium present in var. maritima and altimisia. Physicochemical parameters such as Total ash were observed 52%, 8%, 13% for var. maritima, alba, altissima respectively. The phytochemical screening also confirms the presence of flavonoids and phytosterols among all three varieties. The fluorescence analysis showed the different behavior of root powders. Conclusion: This study will help in authentication and standardization of different 3 varieties of Beet root. The present findings of this study concludes that Beta vulgaris roots have the great potential to act as a source of positive drugs because all three varieties have flavonoids, phytosterols, terpenoids and saponins. These phytoconstituents have the potential to act as a source of functional drug and also improves the physical condition of the patients as a result of the presence of various compounds that plays fundamental role for good health.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The plants are the source of various things for human beings not only for food, shelter but also for medicines. Since the disease, decay and death coexisted with life, the early man had to think about illness and its treatment at the dawn of the human intellect¹. Plants are used as source of medicines by mankind to treat diseases since 2000 years ago². Regardless of many advancements in the field of medicines, plants still remain the main source of drug not only in Ayurveda but also in modern medicines.

 

Almost 12,000 plants are known to have medicinal properties out of 248, 000 identified species of higher plants³. Studies of plants continue principally for uncovering novel secondary metabolites or phytochemicals derived from plants exhibiting protective functions for human beings⁴. It becomes necessary action to assure the identity of plant and check its quality before use⁵.

 

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a medicinal plant of great importance belonging to family Chenopodiaceae. It is rich in fibre, folate, manganese, potassium and iron. It is a vegetable root also known as red beet, garden beet and table beet. It is used as herb in traditional medicine system for the treatment of hypertension, infertility, antioxidant, urinary tract disorders and cancer. Recently, due to increase of herbal products it has been widely used in food industry to extract out harmless colour pigments (betanin) and also for the same purpose in cosmetic industry. It is medicinally important as it has shown antioxidant, antiviral and antimicrobial activity in recent studies. The yellow and red pigments known as betalains comprises red violet betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins out of which betanin is the major constituent 75-95%. Other components present are isobetanidine isobetanin, prebetanin, vulgaxanthin and isoprebetanin. Red beet when cooked with steam distillation, it yields various volatile constituents which are pyridine and 4-picolene^6,7.

 

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Plant collection:

The different three varieties of beet root were grown in Ludhiana and collected in the month of January. Roots were identified by botany department of Chandigarh University. Healthy and full grown roots were taken and used for study.

 

Macroscopic and Microscopic Evaluation:

The macroscopic characters were identified by naked eyes and for powder microscopic studies Phase contrast microscope was used and various identifying characters were evaluated using staining. Staining procedures were performed as per standard procedure⁸.

Physicochemical Analysis:

Loss on drying, Ash content (Total ash content, Acid insoluble ash content, water soluble ash content), Extractive value (Pet. Ether, methanol, water), pH value of extract was performed³.

 

Extraction of Plant Material:

All the three varieties of Beta vulgaris were powdered and shade dried. Extraction was carried out with 95% of ethanol at reflux for 2 hours. Extracts are used for preliminary phytochemical screening.

 

RESULTS:

Microscopic studies

The thick walled fibers are present; cell vacuoles are largely distributed in the Beta vulgaris alba. Starch grains and crystals of calcium oxalate are completely absent in all three varieties of Beta vulgaris. Vascular bundles are present, which are of collateral type. Xylem and phloem are present forming from cambium, alongside the vascular bundles.

 

 

Fb – Fibres, ca – Cambium, Vc – Vacuoles

 

Table 1. Macroscopic studies

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2. Fluorescence analysis of root powder

Treatment (Root powder + chemicals	Beta vulgaris maritima			Beta vulgaris alba			Beta vulgaris altissima
	Day light	UV (254nm)	UV (365 nm)	Day light	UV (254nm)	UV (365 nm)	Day light	UV (254nm)	UV (365 nm)
Powder as such	Red	Dark red	Green	Buff	White	Light green	White	Dark red	Green
5% NaOH	Yellow	Green	Black	White	Yellow	Light green	White	Green	Yellow
Sulphuric acid	Light brown	Brown	Dark brown	Yellow	Green	Bluish green	Brown	Brown	Black
Nitric acid	Yellow	Green	Dark blue	Brown	Green	Dark green	Brown	Green	Black
Acetic acid	Red	Dark red	Black	Buff	White	Yellow	White	Dark red	Yellow
HCL	Red	Dark red	Black	White	White	Green	White	Dark red	Yellow
Chloroform	Red	Dark red	Green	White	Yellow	Green	White	Dark red	Green
Acetone	Red	Dark red	Black	White	White	Green	White	Dark red	Green
Ferric chloride	Blue	Dark blue	Black	Pale yellow	Green	Dark green	Yellow	Dark blue	Dark green
KOH 1%	Red	Yellow	Green	Buff	White	Light green	White	Yellow	Green

 

Table 3. Physico-chemical Analysis of Root powders

Parameters	Beta vulgaris maritima	Beta vulgaris alba	Beta vulgaris altissima
Total ash (%)	52%	8%	13%
Acid insoluble ash (%)	3.8%	25%	15%
Water soluble ash (%)	7.6%	75%	38%
Foreign matter	Nil	Nil	Nil
Loss on drying (%)	33%	57%	44%
pH of 1% aqueous solution	7.28	6.91	7.37
pH of 10% aqueous solution	6.75	7.04	7.48
Extractive value
Pet- ether soluble Extractive value	53%	46%	90%
Methanol soluble Extractive value	91%	91%	92%
Water soluble extractive value	90%	88%	89%

 

Table 4. Preliminary Phytochemical screening of root powders

S. No	Test for	Beta vulgaris maritima	Beta vulgaris alba	Beta vulgaris altissima
1.	Alkaloids	-	-	-
2.	Carbohydrates	-	-	-
3.	Saponins	+	-	-
4.	Glycosides	-	-	-
5.	Tanins	-	-	-
6.	Terpenoids	+	+	-
7.	Phenols	-	-	-
8.	Flavanoids	+	+	+
9.	Phytosterols	+	+	+
10.	Proteins and amino acids	-	-	-

 

DISCUSSION:

Herbal plants play important role in the development of new drugs⁹. Herbal healing is the art deep rooted in Indian culture. This traditional system is still followed in rural areas¹⁰. Identity of crude drugs and appropriate botanical value is very important in establishing quality of herbal drugs¹¹. To assure the quality and clinical efficacy of medicinal plants, determination of the morphological and microscopical characters is the key factor¹². Fluorescence analysis is the important primary parameter in the standardization of crude drugs. The Root powders treated with many chemicals and reagents separately and exposed to visible and ultraviolet light (Short and long) to study their fluorescence       behavior^13,14.

 

Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and steroids have anti-inflammatory       effects^15-18. The phenolic and carotenoid compounds of plants are known for their invaluable effects on human beings and present in varieties of vegetables and plants¹⁹. Additionally, other large family of phytoconstituents are flavonoids also known as bioflavonoids present in fruits and vegetables act as antioxidants²⁰. Flavonoids have well-known Free radicals scavenging activity, which emphasizes their antibacterial, anti-thrombotic, ani-inflammatory and vasodilatory activities²¹. Synthesis of flavonoids are response of microbial infection hence they exhibit in-vitro antimicrobial activity. Terpenoids are most widespread chemical group of natural products reported with antioxidant, anticancer, sedatives, cytotoxic activity, anti-inflammatory etc²². Various physicochemical parameters were recognized which can be important in detecting adulteration and mishandling of medicinal plants²³. In current times more preference has given to use eco-friendly and bio-friendly plant based medicines for the prevention and cure of various human ailments. Because of side effects of synthetics drugs. The modern population also looking for remedies from natural sources²⁴.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTERSEST:

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

 

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Accepted on 15.06.2020           © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2021; 14(3):1689-1692.