Pharmacognostic studies and establishment of quality parameters of Albizia altissima (Hook.f) Hutch et Dandy

Albizia altissima (Hook.f) Hutch et Dandy is a deciduous tree that grows up to 15m in height and 25cm in diameter and is found in various parts of Africa from Sierra Leone to West Cameroon, Sudan and up to Angola. It is used as a fish poison and in traditional medicine for the treatment of mental illness, snake bites, stomachache and toothache. The use in ethonomedicine for the treatment of mental disorders has been scientifically investigated and and the results validated the ethno medicinal use

Pharmacognostic studies of the leaves were carried out following the World Health Organization guidelines on the establishment of quality standards for medicinal plants. Other physiochemical parameters were also determined. Pharmacognostic investigations include macro and microscopic studies on fresh and powdered leaves, physiochemical constants like total ash, extractable (water and alcohol) material and chromatographic fingerprint analysis.

The results showed the presence of paracytic stomata in the leaves exculsively on the lower surface, free prisms of calcium oxalate and clusters of calcum oxalate crystals embedded in the epidermal cells.

The amount of water extractable matter was 130mg/g, that of alcohol extractable matter 150mg/g and the ash value was 30mg/g.

The results of this study are helpful for the preparation of a monograph for the Albizia altissima.

Acknowledgement: The authors acknowledge Ajibesin K K and Raji R

References: World Health Organization (1998) Quality control methods for medicinal plants, Geneva