HPTLC, Physico-chemical, Phytochemical, Macroscopic, Microscopic Analysis of Seeds of a Nutri Cereal-Finger Millet/Ragi [(Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.]

Background: Finger Millet/Ragi [(Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], an important nutri cereal/ millet is being cultivated in various regions across the globe. The largest cultivating continents are Asia and Africa. In this scenario of mounting importance to millets/nutri cereals as the U.N General Assembly announced ‘The International Year of Millets 2023’, there was an urgent need for analysing this drug scientifically, for the purpose of standardisation and quality control. Objectives: HPTLC, physico-chemical, phytochemical, macroscopic, microscopic analysis of seeds of Finger Millet were conducted for standardization. Materials and Methods: Macroscopical and microscopic analysis (Anatomical and Powder Microscopy), and physico-chemical analysis of powder of seeds/grains of Finger millet were done. For, phytochemical analysis, alcoholic extraction (reflux) was performed in the powder of the drug. For HPTLC analysis, the best fingerprint was obtained in with Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid (5: 3: 0.1) as mobile phase. Results: In anatomical study, unique 5-layered testa, starchy endosperm, and single aleurone layer were identified. Physicochemical analysis revealed identity and purity of Ragi. Terpenoids, quinines, alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins and glycosides were identified as the constituent phytochemicals. The fingerprint profile of HPTLC exhibited many peaks which correspond to the various phytoconstituents present in Ragi. Conclusion: The results of the study will be beneficial in identifying Finger millet as the whole drug or in powder form, and thus standardising the raw drug.