• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2011

Sophisticated modern research tools for evaluation of medicinal plants are available but microscopic methods are one of the simplest and cheapest methods to establish the identity of the source materials. Pharmacognostical investigation of the dried, powdered and anatomical sections of the fruits of Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC) Craib was carried out to determine its macro and microscopical characteristics along with its physical constants. Externally, the fruits, yellowish or greenish brown in colour are elongated, elliptical, slightly curved, prominently ridged and longitudinal. As seen in transectional views of the fruits from Trachyspermum roxburghianum, the mericarp has concave sides called commissural surfaces and a convex outer side called the dorsal surface. The mericarp has three primary ridges alternating with two secondary ridges on the dorsal side. On the commissural side, there are two primary ridges which are lateral in position and two secondary ridges in the commissural side. The seed is attached to the pericarp by a short stalk called a raphe. Circular, four-lobed calcium oxalate crystals are fairly abundant in the endosperm. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, proteins and sugars. The pharmacognostical profile of the fruits will assist in standardization for quality, purity and sample identification.