PHARMACOGNOSTICAL INVESTIGATION OF FIORIA VITIFOLIA
Fioria vitifolia. syn. Hibiscus vitifolius (Malvaceae) rainy season weed mainly used for the treatment of jaundice in the folklore system of medicine in India. The present study was carried out to investigate organoleptic, morphologic, microscopic and other applicable physico- chemical parameters of whole part of Fioria Vitifolia. The plant is an herb or undreshrub grows widely along the roadsides of India and also in the tropical and subtropical regions. The transverse section of the leaf midribs shows upper epidermis, lower epidermis, palisade tissues, spengy tissues, multicellular trichomes, parenchyma and also xylem vessels. Transverse section of leaf a sector enlarged shows upper epidermis, lower epidermis, palisade parenchyma, spengy parenchyma cells, multicellular trichomes. Transverse section of stem shows sclerenchyma cells, trachied, glandular hairs, hairs, trichome, epidermis, cortex, xylem meta vessels, xylem proto vessels and also pith. Transverse section of stem a sector enlarged shows trichome, hair, epidermis, cortex, phloem, sclerenchyma cells, vessels, prota xylem, pith. A pith portions enlarged shows parenchyma cells and cell inclusions and also shows glandular hair. Powder analysis shows parenchyma cells, oil globules, epidermal tissues, bundle of trichome, portion of fiber, sclerenchymatous cells, trachieds, vessel elements. Physico-chemical evaluation includes ash values, extractive values, moisture content was evaluated. The fluorescence analysis of powdered whole part also was evaluated. These findings will be useful towards establishing pharmacognostic standards on identification, purity, quality and classification of the plant, which is gaining relevance in plant drug research.