Present communication attempts to evaluate the physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies on the bark of Bauhinia variegate of the family Leguminosae. It is a medium sized tree occurring in sub-Himalayan tract extending eastwards to Assam, Eastern, Central and South India. It is commonly called as Mountain Ebony. The reported biological activities are anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, hepatoprotective, anti-bacterical activities, etc. Several Tests were performed using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, alcoholic and water extracts. Thin layer chromatography technique was used to separate the chemical compounds and observed under UV and iodine vapour. Preliminary phytochemical tests performed were dragendoff’s test, alkaline test, shinoda test, molisch’s test, noller’s test, Liebermann-Burchard reagent and NaOH solution. Physico-chemical parameters performed were loss of drying, total ash value, acid-insoluble ash, watersoluble extractive, alcohol-soluble extractive, pH, particle size, bulk density, tapped density, heavy metals, microbial contamination studies. The physicochemical parameters, preliminary phytochemical constants, toxic heavy metal, and microbial contamination analysis were performed as there is no detailed standardisation work reported on bark. The result represents the specific identities for the particular crude drug which will be useful in identification and control to adultrations of the crude drug.
