P. C. Datta

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Phyllanthus amarus

AbstractPhyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae), an Ayurvedic plant is used in many problems of stomach, genito-urinary system, liver and kidney. The plant is often admixed with different small herbs and also with medicinally less important related species. An attempt has been made to distinguish the plant from other herbs on the basis of macromorphology, micromorphology, histochemical study and physical pharmacognostic study.

Medicinal Species of Piper, Pharmacognostic Delimitation

The genus Piper (Piperaceae) is a large one. Jackson (1869) and Salisbury (1959-60) mention 600-700 species, Willis (1973) 2000. Hooker (1882) recorded only 24 species in India. “Wealth of India” mentions 30 species for India. About eight Indian species have therapeutic importance (Chopra et al., 1956). Four of these species, very common and widely used, have been selected for detailed study: Piper betle L. (Tambuli in Sanskrit, Pan in Bengali, Tamvettilai in Tamil), Piper cubeba L. f. (Sugandha muricha in Sanskrit, Kabachini in Bengali), Piper longum L. (Pippali in Sanskrit, Pipul in Bengali and Pippallu in Telegu) and Piper nigrum L. (Maricha in Sanskrit, Milagu in Tamil, Golmorich in Hindi and Bengali). A critical study of the pharmacognostic characters, though almost unexplored (Datta and Mukherji, 1952; Tyler and Schwarting, 1968), is worth attempting, particularly for detecting adulteration in commercial supplies.

Chromosome studies in species ofDracaena with special reference to their means of speciation

SummaryDetailed study of the structure and behaviour of chromosomes in the somatic tissue of twenty-one species of the genusDracaena has been made and the “normal” chromosome numbers of all these species have been reported for the first time in this paper.The previous and the present records suggest that most of the species possess a number of chromosomal biotypes. These biotypes mainly differ with respect to their chromosome numbers.Relationship between species showing multiples of different series of chromosome numbers, viz. eight, ten, thirteen, seventeen and nineteen has been indicated.On the basis of the fact that a general resemblance in gross morphology of chromosomes and similarity in total amount of chromatin length are present amongst different species of the genusDracaena, it has been suggested that the species of this genus represent a homogeneous assemblage in spite of the fact that inconstancy in chromosome number is noted within a species.The different lines have mainly been assumed to have come out through continued production of aneuploid numbers during evolution. The presence of a number of chromosomal biotypes indicates that such aneuploid numbers often arise.Minor differences in details of chromosome morphology, and the presence of super-numerary constrictions in certain species, have been regarded as proving that structural changes of chromosomes have also played a distinct role in evolution of the species.As the different species ofDracaena are propagated exclusively through vegetative means, the only explanation for the origin of biotypes which can be suggested is that the recorded variant nuclei enter into the formation of new daughter shoots from which new individuals originate with different genomic constitutions. As flowers are scarcely noted and sexual reproduction is entirely ineffective with respect to propagation, this seems to be the only way through which speciation is effected here.

Pharmacognosy of Thevetia peruviana Bark

Root and stem barks of Thevetia peruviana have many lenticels, scales, cracks and fissures on the outer surface; coarse striations and corrugations and networks on the inner surface and granular fracture. Sections show elongated stone cells in outer cortex and brachysclereids in secondary phloem; starch grains and long latex cells in secondary phloem; crystals in rays. Stem bark can be distinguished from root bark by the less developed cork. Barks of different varieties of the species can be distinguished by surface colour, nature of wrinkles, cork depth, abundance of latex cells, extent of the secondary phloem, phloem fibre length, ray-height, ray abundance, colour reactions to reagents and fluorescence.

Staining Pollen Tubes in the Style; Cotton Blue versus Carmine for General Use

Pollen tubes passing through the style are fixed in acetic-alcohol (1 : 1) at 60 C for 30 min; softened by boiling in water 5–30 min; cleared in lactic acid at 60 C, 30 min; stained in lactophenol-cotton blue (1%) at 60 C, 15–30 min; and mounted in lactic acid. This procedure was found to be more generally applicable to angiosperms than carmine, applied in propionic-lactic acid mixtures. It has been tested on 36 species, including 4 monocotyledons and 32 dicotyledons.

Relationships ofJusticieae (Acanthaceae) based on cytology

The eytology of some species representing the subtribesBarlerieas, Andrographideae, Eujusticieae andDicliptereae of theJusticieae ofBentham & Hooker, suggests thatBarlerieae are the most primitive subtribe. Separation ofBarlerieae in Englers system from the tribeJusticieae has been supported. But separation ofEcbolium andRungia in a different taxon,Odontonemeae in the classification ofEngler does not find justification. The position ofRungia underDicliptereae (Bentham & Hooker) is supported.

Pharmacognostic Study of the Leaf of Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Boraginaceae)

AbstractHeliotropium indicum Linn. (Fam. Boraginaceae) has many medicinal uses. The common trade name is Hatisunda. The plant has pubescent, exstipulate, ovate-elongate leaves with ranunculaceous stomata on both surfaces, near 21 stomatal index, various types of non-glandular and glandular hairs, about 6 palisade ratio, lacunar collenchyma in mid-veins, suberin at trichome bases and alkaloids in leaf extracts.

Comparative Pharmacognosy of Strychnos nux-vomica and Strychnos potatorum Stem Barks

AbstractThe bark of Strychnos potatorum L. (Loganiaceae), is used as an adulterant of S. nux-vomica L. The latter is highly poisonous, containing the alkaloids strychnine and brucine, whereas the former is nonpoisonous. The two barks could be distinguished by pharmacognostic evaluation.

Pharmacognosy of Alstonia bark drugs

AbstractPharmacognostic evaluation of the bark drug of Alstonia scholaris R.Br, (used in diseases of heart and blood, asthma, leucoderma, ulcers, tumors, dysentery, etc., containing the alkaloid echitamine) and others was carried out. Diagnostic features include irregular wrinkles iron grey to mouse grey outer surface, prominent whitish lenticels, alternate bands of sclereids confined to periderm, purple to dark purple U.V. fluorescence on surface, light violet fluorescence of powder, greenish yellow fluorescence of acidic aqueous extract. The bark is distinguished from the apparently similar bark of A. macrophylla Wall, by many organoleptic and microscopic characters.

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY OF ROOT, LEAF AND SEED OF ASTERACANTHA LONGIFOLIA NEES

AbstractAsteracantha longifolia Nees. applied in jaundice, dropsy, rheumatism, anasarca etc., show the pharmacognostic characters - spines, having perennial root stocks; bluish-purple 2-lipped flower; leaves - sessile, multichambered thick-walled sclerotic cell, among the epidermal cells of midrib, large flat bunch-shaped calcium carbonate crystals and needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals in the epidermal cells of lamina and in the cortical cells of midrib respectively; stomata-caryophyllaceous; stomatal index on upper surface: 23.46 (± .47); lower surface: 27.44 (± 52); palisade ratio: 10.23 (± .19) and vein islet number: 25.8 (± .69).