Pharmacognostic evaluation and investigation of revitalizer herb Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.

Medicinal plants have been used from ancient time for the treatment and well- being of human beings. Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. is also been extensively used as traditional medicine in various culture. Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. is often prostrate, slender and wiry with long hairs. The plant is common in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The metabolites of the plant are consid- ered to be effective in treating many ailments. Various dosage forms and a wide array of extracts have been used in traditional system of medicine with potent therapeutic activity. It has anticonvulsant, nootropic, anti-inflamma- tory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anxiolytic, cardio-protective effects. The pre- sent study deals the pharmacognostic evaluation and investigation of system- atics, macro-microscopy, physico-chemical studies, phytochemical studies and TLC assay & HPTLC analytical studies of this medicinally important plant spe- cies. Study not only covers critical aspects of pharmacognosy but also im- portant phytochemical investigation with reference to its known bioactive sec- ondary metabolites. It helps in the quality evaluation and standardization of herbal drug. Pharmacognostic diagnosis is very helpful to improve cultivation procedure, plant safety, drug quality and its efficacy along with authentication of commercial samples, used in various formulations.