Morphological and Phytochemical Studies on Xanthium strumarium L

CrossRef, Google Scholar, Scientific Indexing Services (SIS), Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF), CiteFactor, Index Copernicus International (ICI), Directory of Research Journal Indexing (DRJI), General Impact Factor, Journal Factor, Cosmos Impact Factor, PKP Index, AJIFACTOR Indexing, etc. Xanthium strumarium L. belonging to family Asteraceae is an annual herb with abundance occurring in India. This plant has been used in the indigenous system of medicine for a long time in India as well as other countries. The morphological studies reveal that there is notable difference in the plant habit, leaves, stem, root and flowers among this plant. Morphological study also helps for correct identification and nomenclature of plant. The chemicals present in root, stem and leaves drugs are analyzed physically as well as chemically by qualitative and quantitative parameters. In present study reveals morphology, medicinal properties and phytochemical studies of plants for correct identification authenticity of drugs. The details are presented in the present paper.


INTRODUCTION
Since millennium, man has utilized plants as a source of food, shelter and also for health and large part of the world's populations near about 80% are depend upon plants for primary health care. Even today in western medicine and despite progress in synthetic chemistry some 25% of prescription medicines are still derived either directly or indirectly from plants. The use of plants in medicine ranges from crude preparation of extract (Maiti R. K. & Singh 2006). India is known for Ayurveda and the traditional system of medicine. There are 17800 flowering plants species occurs in India out of which about 7500 species are known to have medicinal properties (V. N. Naik,2000). Many medicinal plants with wide distribution have naturally several names. This has naturally led to the confusion or controversy in their genuinely and correct identity.
It was revealed that in some drugs, there is contamination of other non-medicinal plant in the form of small and fine powder in some drugs sold in the local market. X. strumarium L. is widely distributed all over the India and is medicinal plant. X. strumarium L. locally known as cocklebur, clothur, woodgarie bur, ogora, godrin, sankhanull, ghagra, umattai, marulutige, chhota dhatura, dhatura, muruluumatti, etc. X. strumarium plant used for various diseases, i. e. lecuoderma, poisonous bites of insects, epilepsy, salivation, malaria, rheumatism, tuberculous, arthritis, diarrhea, leprosy, bacterial and fungal infections and skin diseases. Many phytochemical studies of X. strumarium have been conducted and more than 170 compounds have been isolated and identified from this plant (Wenxiang Fan et. al. 2019).

Medicinal Properties
Xanthium strumarium L. is a common and well known Chinese herbal medicine. It has been used for thousands of years in China (Wenxiang Fan et. al. 2019). Extract of whole plant especially leaves, roots, fruits and seeds have been applied in traditional medicine for treatment of leucoderma poisonous bites of insect's epilepsy salivation long standing case of malaria, rheumatism, tuberculosis, arthritis, diarrhea, leprosy, bacterial and fungal infections. (Anjoo Kambo & Ajaykumar Saluja, 2010). The allergenic components presented in whole pollen extract of X. strumarium L> causing contact dermatitis. (Witie et. al. 1990). Antibacterial activity against staphylococcus aureus species (Gautam et.al. 2007). Whole plants of X. strumarium as well as all parts separately is used in medicine (Senthil Kumar, 2011). Antifungal activity of six different concentrations of X. strumarium essential oil evaluated by agar well diffusion method on PDA against selected fungal strains (Z. Parveen et.al. 2017). X. strumarium contains various bioactive components including protein, carbohydrates, phenols, vannins saponoins etc, Yaseen Khan Salaiman Shah, Shakir Ullah (2020).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The samples were collected from the medium sized authentically identified plant species from different localities of Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The root, stem and leaves were collected removed carefully by hand prinking without damaging the plant. In phytochemical studies, plant powder of root stem and leaf of Xanthium strumarium L. species was under taken for chemical analysis. Each parameter has separate procedure every parameter has different procedure.
Xanthium strumarium L. is an annual and branched herb with erect stem about one meter in height. It has stout and hairy stem appear green, brownish or reddish brown in colour, often red spotted. The leaves are heart shaped simple ovate opposite, alternate phyllotaxy triangular to ovate in outline have stiff hairs and are approximately 2-7 inches long. Leaves are irregularly lobed with leaf margins that have relatively inconspicuous teeth. The flowers are monoecious and are pollinated by insects. Flower heads occurs several to many in short pediculate axillary or terminal racemes. Fruits are cylindrical to ovoid, two chambered bur, 1 to 4 cm long, and glandular covered with hooked prickles projecting from the apex of the bur. Brownish to reddish when mature. Seeds are one achene per floret, two per bur 1 to 1.5 cm long, dark brown oblong and flattened with pointed apex. The seeds are dispersed through contaminated farm tools, waste soils and furry farm animals.
i) Colour: -The root, stem and leaf powders of Xanthium strumarium root, stem and leaf drugs have following colours root -dull yellow, stem -greenish yellow, leaf -dark green ii) Odour: -The root, stem and leaf powders of selected root, stem and leaf drugs have following Odour. rootcharacteristic, stem -specific, leaf -specific.
iii) Taste: -The root, stem and leaf powders of root, stem and leaf drugs have following tastes-root -bitter, stemacrid, leaf -bitter astringent.

a) Qualitative Chemical Parameters
Alkaloids are present in root, stem and leaves under investigation. Almost all the alkaloids have medicinal property and hence their presence in the Medicinal plants is not surprising. Phytochemical screening was carried out to assess the qualitative chemical composition of crude extract. The major natural chemical groups such as steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinone, iridoids, saponin, steroids and tannins. Alkaloids present in root, stem and leaves of X. strumarium. (Table -2).
Anthraquinone present in stem and absence in root and leaves. Analysis of iridoid test reveals presence of iridoid in stem and absence in root and leaf.
Saponins were reported higher from X. strumarium stem and lower in root. The Negative test of saponin reported in leaves (Table -2).
Steroids were present in root, stem and leaves of plant organ. (Table -2) Tannins: Present in the root and stem but absence in leaves. (Table -2 Table 3 and 4.  However, it is felt that instead of depending on any one solvent, extractive value in all solvents taken together will be the most reliable test. Various parameters for standardizing test for authenticity of a drug are provided for each plant which has been studied.