Morphological Characterization of Homeopathic Medicinal Plants and Evaluation of their Biological Effect Against the Microsporum canis

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify and characterize the homoeopathic medicinal plants on the basis of their morphology and evaluation of their biological effect against the “Microsporum canis. Materials and Methods: Taxonomic analyses (e.g., documentation of the biological origin and morphological characteristics) are essential for characterizing homoeopathic drugs in a systematic manner to reach authentication, and thus maintaining homoeopathic drug efficacy. The selected homoeopathic medicinal plant drugs Allium sativum (Bulb), Eucalyptus globulus (Leaves), Ficus religiosa (Leaves), Holarrhena antidysenterica (Bark), Ocimum sanctum (whole plant) and Terminalia chebula (Fruit) were investigated morphologically including microscopical and quantitative micrometric analysis as per standard protocol. The mother tincture and potencies of homoeopathic drugs were prepared as per standard HPI protocol and were evaluated for their biological activity against the Microsporum canis using agar disc diffusion assay as per guidelines of clinical and laboratory standard (M44-A) with slight modification. The diameters of zone (mm) of inhibition were measured, and the results were compared with the vehicle control followed by positive control Ketoconazole as reference standard fungicide. Results: Some peculiar characters in plants were observed like elongated or polyhedral cells followed by storage parenchymatous cells and poor vasculature in Allium sativum, secretary canal and curved eye shaped vascular bundle in Eucalyptus globules, eye shaped vascular bundle in Ficus religiosa, hair pattern and quadrangular stem of Ocimum sanctum, rhomboidal prismatic crystals, laticifers and stone cells in Holarrhena antidysenterica. Mother tincture of Terminalia chebula was exhibited maximum zone of inhibition up to 13.6±1.1 mm followed by Ocimum sanctum, Eucalyptus globulus, Allium sativum, Ficus religiosa and Holarrhena antidysenterica. In case of potencies (3X, 6X and 12X), significant zone of inhibition was observed with many medicines especially Allium sativum at 6X (9.6±2.9 mm), Ficus religiosa at 3X (9.8±0.4) and 12X (9.2±1.1), Ocimum sanctum at 3X (9.8±1.3), 6X (11.6±1.7) and 12X (9.2±0.8), compared to vehicle control against M canis. These plants of medicinal importance were fully described macroand micro-morphologically for easier and more accurate identification. Conclusion: The present study obtained results was that morpho-anatomical characters and biological activity not only provide characters for their correct taxonomic authentication, but also serve as standard data for the quality assessment of the pharmaceutical preparation of homoeopathic drugs.