Pharmacognostical Study of Barleria lupulina Lindl. - A Lesser-known Medicinal Herb

Abstract

Barleria lupulina Lindl. is an ornamental shrub belonging to Acanthaceae family. Its ethnomedicinal uses are reported in Southeast Asian folk medicine, where it is being used for treating wounds, insect stings and snake bites. Also, its antibacterial anti-inflammatory properties have been researched. Since it is not explicitly mentioned in classical Ayurvedic texts, it falls under the category of Anukta Dravya (Extra phamacopoeial drug). Its pharmacognostical study is very much under-explored which is crucial for its authentication, purity assessment and medicinal efficacy. In present investigation its morphological and microscopic characteristics are studied, highlighting features of its leaves, stems, flowers etc. Microscopic analysis reveals essential cellular structures, including vascular bundles, trichomes and cystoliths, which aid in its authentication and identification. The powder behaviour of whole plant indicates the presence of pitted and spiral vessels, thin-walled fibres, Calcium oxalate crystals, cork cells, trichomes and stomata. Despite the modern techniques, identification of plant drugs by pharmacognostic studies is very basic and more reliable.