COMPARATIVE PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF LEAVES AND STEM BARK OF Bridelia airy-shawii

Bridelia is a genus distributed among tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mainly in Africa and Asia. Around 60 species of Bridelia (Euphorbiaceae) are found in nature but chemical, pharmacognostic and pharmacological investigation of only 16 species is done extensively. Bridelia species and their preparations found medical application in cardiovascular, gynecological, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-nociceptive and sexual diseases. Toxicity of the remedies or the isolated compounds from Bridelia plants is not published. Ethno-biological findings suggest Bridelia airy-shawii stem bark and leaves are possessing greater potential to cure inflammatory disorders specially arthritis which is substantially incurable by conventional medicinal system. The study was undertaken with view to explore and compare pharmacological potential of leaves and stem bark. Also choose more pronouncing part of plant for practical application. It is on track with milieu of Pharmacognostic findings as it can be correlated with major objective. Key words: Bridelia airy-shawii, Pharmacognostic evaluation, anti-inflammatory, tannins, bark and leaves