PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION, PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDEPRESSANT POTENCY OF IRIS GERMANICA L

Abstract

Background: The plant species Iris germanica L., belonging to the family Iridiaceae, is a notable collection of approximately 1800 species. It is classified under the genus Iris, which is recognised as one of the largest genera. Objective: This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pharmacognostical studies, phytochemical investigation, and evaluation of antioxidant and antidepressant activity of Iris germanica L. Materials and methods:  The rhizomes of Iris germanica were collected, subjected to shade drying, and subsequently pulverised. The powdered sample was then assessed for pharmacognostic parameters, including macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, physicochemical properties, and phytochemical analysis, utilising established methodologies. The antidepressant efficacy of different hydroalcoholic fractions was assessed using the forced swim test, tail suspension test, and water wheel models. The assessment of the antioxidant activity of fractions was conducted through the utilisation of the DPPH free radical scavenging assay and the reducing power method. Results: The analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of Iris germanica rhizomes yielded several phytoconstituents, including tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and carbohydrates. The findings of the study on antidepressant activity indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of the hydroalcoholic extract of Iris germanica exhibited significant levels of activity compared to other fractions. The utilisation of this screening procedure holds significant value in determining the presence of various phytoconstituents. Additionally, the observed antidepressant potential of Iris germanica positions it as a promising candidate for the development of herbal antidepressant medications. Furthermore, the extracts exhibit considerable antioxidant capacity. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the microscopic characteristics, proximate analysis, and preliminary phytochemical screening of Iris germanica rhizomes. The data collected from this study can serve as a reference point for quality control measures in the plant under investigation. Additionally, it can be utilised as a medicinal substance for the alleviation of various ailments. Moreover, it can be considered a valuable source of information in the establishment of pharmacognostic standards pertaining to the aspects of quality, purity, identification, and classification. Additionally, the study on antidepressants and antioxidants demonstrated that the extracts exhibit noteworthy potential in terms of both antidepressant and antioxidant properties.