ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical evaluation of the leaves of Cucurbita Pepo
Authors
Radhika Batchu, N Shivani, S Harshitha, U Harini, M Pravalika
Abstract
Medicinal plants continue to play a significant role in traditional and
modern healthcare systems due to their diverse bioactive constituents. Cucurbita
Pepo (Cucurbitaceae) is widely used in folk medicine for its nutritional
and therapeutic benefits. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the
pharmacognostic characteristics and preliminary phytochemical profile of Cucurbita
Pepo leaves. Pharmacognostic evaluation included organoleptic, microscopic,
and physical parameters to establish diagnostic features of the plant material.
The dried leaf powder was subjected to successive solvent extraction using
petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. Preliminary
phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed to detect the presence of
major phytoconstituents. The results revealed characteristic microscopic
features such as epidermal cells, stomata, xylem vessels, fibers, starch
grains, and calcium oxalate crystals, which aid in authentication of the drug.
Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of carbohydrates, proteins,
alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, and glycosides in
various extracts. These findings provide useful information for the
identification, standardization, and quality control of Cucurbita Pepo
leaves and support their potential medicinal applications.
Pages:78-83
How to cite this article:
Radhika Batchu, N Shivani, S Harshitha, U Harini, M Pravalika "Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical evaluation of the leaves of <i>Cucurbita Pepo</i>". International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 78-83
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.