Monograph on quality standards of Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC.

Abstract

The genus Viscum (Viscaceae) comprise of several species of hemi-parasitic plants with medicinal properties. Commonly known as mistletoes, these plants grow on other trees with the partial parasitic association. Viscum angulatum B.Heyne ex DC. is one such less explored leafless mistletoe of Asian countries with medicinal claims. In Ayurveda (Bandaka) and Siddha (Pulluri/Pulluruvi), many botanicals from mistletoe families have been attributed with medicinal properties. The objective of the current study is to develop a monograph on quality standards of V. angulatum occurring in high altitude hills of Western Ghats. Aerial parts of V. angulatum were collected and authenticated and preserved in FAA for microscopic studies and some quantity of the plant material was shade-dried and coarsely powdered. Successive extracts were subjected to chromatography and isolation - characterization of the major compounds. Leaf-less quadrangular stem was found to be a diagnostic macroscopic feature of this species. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of extracts showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins. HPTLC fingerprint of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts has been obtained for identification of extracts. The ethyl acetate extract yielded 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester which can be used as a marker compound for routine quality check of V. angulatum growing on Mussaenda hirsutissima. The set of data obtained in the present investigation can serve as a standard for the identification as well as further studies. These results on standards of this plant are the first report so far.