Diospyros villosa Root Monographic Quality Studies

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Ethnobotany
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Diospyros villosa root (DVR) is traditionally used in Mozambique as a toothbrush and for oral infections.
• Lack of standardized quality criteria hinders the safe and sustainable development of pharmaceutical preparations from DVR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish monographic quality criteria for Diospyros villosa root (DVR).
• To enable the sustainable and safe development of pharmaceutical preparations derived from DVR.

Main Methods:

• Botanical identification (qualitative and quantitative microscopy).
• Purity tests (loss on drying, total ash).
• Chemical constituent analysis (polyphenols, tannins) and particle size characterization.

Main Results:

• Microscopic analysis revealed characteristic features: periderm, brachysclereids, calcium oxalate crystals, medullary rays, and xylem vessels.
• Polyphenols, primarily hydrolyzable tannins (212.29 ± 0.005 mg GAE/g dried DVR), were identified as the main constituents.
• The powdered DVR was classified as fine powder with an average particle size of 0.255 mm.

Conclusions:

• Established monographic parameters provide a basis for quality control of Diospyros villosa root.
• These criteria support the safe and sustainable utilization of DVR in pharmaceutical applications.