Abstract
The plant Begonia roxburghii (Miq.) A.DC (Begoniaceae) is a shrub widely distributed in the Himalayan regions of North East India. In Meghalaya and Assam states of India, the plant is regularly used as vegetables and the roots of the plant are traditionally used in the treatment of diarrhoea, bronchitis, dysentery, candidiasis, colds, in digestive disorders and liver problems. The present investigation was undertaken for the first time to report the complete cytomorphological and quality control profile of the roots from the plant. The study included morphological, microscopical, physicochemical and nutritional analysis. Further, the root extract was also subjected to phytochemical screening and quantitative estimation of various identified phytoconstituents and HPTLC standardization. Morphologically, the roots appeared brown, bulb shaped and tapering towards base, while microscopical examination of the root showed the presence of cortical cells with brown content, cork cambium, lignified xylem fibers, simple or compound starch grains and clustered oxalate crystals. All the physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, microbial counts were found to be within the limits of WHO guidelines, while aflatoxins were absent and nutritional analysis showed the presence of essential elements viz. Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg and Zn. The phytochemical standardization revealed the roots extract to be highly rich in flavonoids and tannins, while rutin quantified using HPTLC was found to be 6.83% w/w. Thus, the quality control profile developed through this study could be used as referential source for further research and also to minimize adulteration.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India for providing the financial support to Mrs. Rupali S. Prasad.
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This research did not receive any specific funding; Indian Council of Medical Research (45/18/2022/TRM/BMS).
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Prasad, R.S., Dhaswadikar, S.R., Laloo, D. et al. Quality control profiling, nutritional analysis and phytochemical standardization of a vegetable root Begonia roxburghii. Vegetos 36, 842–850 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-022-00446-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-022-00446-8