Abstract

Aerva persica (Amaranthaceae) is hoary-tomentose herb that possesses several biological activities like antiulcer, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, diuretic and demulcent. Important details like macroscopic and microscopic examination, physico-chemical parameters and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) profile of various extracts are presented in this paper. This study revealed that values for total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulphated ash, swelling index, fibre content, bitterness, extractive values with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water were found  to be 6.19, 1.42, 2.45, 6.77, 4%, 27%, 0.869, 0.5%, 1.25%, 11.25%, 2% and 1.75, respectively, are being reported for the first time. The standardisation studies help in the identification of A.persica from other Aerva species.

Key words: Aerva persica, aflatoxins, Amarantheacae, antiulcer, standardisation.