Medico-botanical assessment of a weed plant: Cassia obtusifolia

Cassia obtusifolia Linn. is commonly known as “Takla” or “Chakunda” in India, a common weed, also used as vegetable Family-Caesalpiniaceae. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the different organ, observations and differential microchemical test have been carried out for the authentication of the samples. Physiochemical values such as the Moisture contents, percentage of total ash, acid insoluble ash, acid soluble ash, water soluble ash, extractive values like petroleum ether-soluble extractives, ethanol-soluble extractives, methanol-soluble extractives and water-soluble extractives were calculated as well as colour reactions of powder and extract with different chemicals were performed to observe fluorescence analysis. The extracts were subjected to qualitative screening test for various constituents. This revealed the presence protein, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and phenolic compound, steroid reducing sugars, saponin glycosides and fats. These observations will help in the Pharmacognostical identification and standardization of the plant as a drug in the crude form and also to distinguish the material from its adulteration.