PRELIMINARY PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF EMBELIA RIBES BURM.F. & EMBELIA ROBUSTA AUCT. NON ROXB. FRUITS  A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Dr. Malvika Saini; Dr. Mita Kotecha

Volume : VI, Issue : VI, June - 2017

PRELIMINARY PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF EMBELIA RIBES BURM.F. & EMBELIA ROBUSTA AUCT. NON ROXB. FRUITS A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Dr. Malvika Saini, Dr. Mita Kotecha

Abstract :

Background: Vidang (Embelia ribes Burm.f.) is a very genuine plant for its anthelmintic activity. In Ayurveda, it is a first choice of drug for its krimighna action or to kill foreign pathogens. Embelia robusta auct. Non roxb., the other species of vidang is adulterated in Embelia ribes Burm.f. Objective: Preliminary pharmacognostical study includes macroscopic & microscopic characteristics which are also a tool for identification & authentication of a plant. Therefore shastrokta or original vidang & its adulterant species were selected for the comparative study. Materials & Methods: For macroscopic study, dried fruits were observed with all sense organs. For microscopic study, dried fruits were made softened with water & dilute Hydrochloride acid. Then transverse sections were cut & then observed in binocular microscope. Results: Embelia ribes Burm.f. is black in colour. A few yellow spots are present on its seed. Embelia robusta auct.Non roxb. is reddish own in colour. Its seed possess numerous yellow spots. Mesocarp of Embelia ribes Burm.f. has comparatively less layers. Embelia ribes Burm.f has more number of perisperms with less intercellular space. Seed testa is thick in Embelia robusta auct.Non roxb. Embelia robusta auct.Non roxb has scleroid cells which are dense & small in size. Conclusion: Primary cell organs of both species i.e. Embelia ribes Burm.f. & Embelia robusta auct.Non roxb. are same. Major macroscopic differences between two species are in size, shape, colour of fruits. Major microscopic differences are in arrangement & density of cells, intercellular space, number of layers of cells etc. Basic features of genus in both species are same. But differences may be due to different species. Their differences justify their same genus but different species. These differences can be used for identification of both species available in the market.