A comparative pharmacognostical and phytochemical analysis of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. leaf extracts

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. has many pharmacological properties such as anticancer, antidiabetic, insecticidal, antimicrobial, anti-urolithiatic, etc. The plant leaves are used as ethno medicine traditionally. Various methods of medicinal preparations are used but most effective, scientific and safe preparation is not known yet. In the present study, four types of extracts of K. pinnata leaves were prepared using different methods (Extract 1 – fresh leaf juice, Extract 2 – cold aqueous extract of fresh leaves, Extract 3 – decoction of fresh leaves and Extract 4 – decoction of dried leaf powder). The extracts were investigated for its macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical and phytochemical properties and the comparative statistical analysis was done. All the extracts showed significant results for their phytochemical study, and Extract 1 showed highest diversity of compounds which places it as best extracts. This study provides important information for the selection of best extract as folkloric preparation.