Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort (Chenopodiaceae) is a mangrove herb, commonly known as Indian salt blite in English, found in salt marshy areas of India. The leaves of plant have been used as medicine for hepatitis traditionally. It is reported to possess antiviral, antibacterial activity and antioxidant activity etc. The present study was carried out to establish the pharmacognostical studies, physico-chemical parameters along with preliminary phytochemical screening of petroleum ether, chloroform, methanolic and aqueous extracts of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. The macroscopical and microscopical characters were studied. The transverse section (T.S.) of root indicated the arrangement of various cells in cork, cortex, phelloderm and pith region. The histochemical colour reaction of T.S with different chemical reagents and preliminary phytochemical screening of various extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrate, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids sterols, phenolic and tannins compounds. The physico-chemical parameters such as total, acid insoluble, water insoluble and sulphated ash (2.7, 1.54, 2.17 and 3.6%w/w respectively), loss on drying (12.87 %w/w) extractive values and fluorescence analysis of extracts and powder treated with different chemical reagents were studied under ordinary light, short and long UV lights. The foaming and swelling index were also studied. These studies will be helpful in developing standards for quality, purity and sample identification of this plant.
