Pharmacognostic Specifications of Leaves of Olea europaea Collected from Iraq

Olea europaea L. is used traditionally as hypotensive, emollient, laxative, diuretic, febrifuge, skin cleanser, and also used for the treatment of urinary infections, gallstones, bronchial asthma and diarrhoea. Several phytoconstituents have been reported from different parts of the plant such as glycosides, secoiridoid, flavonoids and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. As the herb is used widely in the traditional systems of medicine, it was thought worthwhile to undertake the standardization. The present study designed for determination of physico-chemical parameters, phytochemical screening and also its antioxidant activity. The quality control parameters like extractive of plant with different solvents, ash values, foreign organic matter, loss on drying and pH of aqueous solution were determined. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging method. The results obtained from preliminary pharmacognostic standardization of leaves of O. europaea are very helpful in determination of quality and purity of the crude drug and its marketed formulation. The ethanolic, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of leaves of O. europaea showed potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity.

Author(s): Raad A Kaskoos

Abstract | PDF

Share This Article