Abstract
Plantaxo lanceolata known as Azan el-kabsh in Arabic; belongs to the family Plantaginaceae and is wildly grown in Saudi Arabia. It is reported to be used as emollient, astringent expectorant, in gastrointestinal disorder, as anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, in wound healing, as antibacterial and antiviral. The study is designed with an aim to carry out the physicochemical parameters in accordance with the World Health Organization guideline /pharmacopeia! standards and chromatographic analysis for identifying some compounds. The parameters evaluated include ash values, loss on drying extractive value, moisture content, fluorescence analysis, TLC studies and HPLC analysis. The total ash was found to be 9.8%, acid insoluble ash 2.7 %, and water-soluble ash was 5.6%. The sample was dry but hygroscopic, with a loss on drying of 3.0 %. The methanolic extractive value of the drug was found to be 12.7% (%w/w) and was highest, which indicates the presence of polar components while the least extractive value was obtained in the ethyl acetate extract i.e. 1.2%. The TLC screening showed the presence of caffiec acid and ferulic acid. Caffiec acid was quantified by HPLC analysis. The amount of caffiec acid was found to be 0 .08 mg/ml and the retention time was 3.073. The study of these standardization parameters will provide referential information for the standardization and authentication of this plant.