Post on 23-Dec-2015
IntroductionTo
Medicinal Fruits
Introduction to Medicinal FruitsDefinition:• They are developed and ripened ovary or ovaries
of a single flower or a group of flowers.• In false fruits, other floral parts are included with
gynaecium.Functions:1- Protection of seeds.2- Ensures the distribution of seeds.3- Nourishment of seeds.
Surface:- Smooth (Capsicum), hairy (Anise), ridged (Umbelliferous fruits)…..etc.
Histology:- The fruit wall is called pericarp that divides to:
1- Epicarp:• Thin or membranous (Tomato), thick and hard (Colocynth).• Formed of a single layer or accompanied by one
or more modified hypodermal layers (Colocynth).• It may contain ca ox crystals (Coriander).
2- Mesocarp:• Parenchymatous containing vascular bundles and
secretory structures (Umbelliferous fruits).
3- Endocarp:• Thin or thick and hard, formed of either a single
layer or accompanied by hypodermal layers.
Fruit Layers2 -Epicarp (Ectocarp or Exocarp).
3 -Mesocarp.4 -Endocarp.
5 -Placenta.6 -Seed stalk.
7 -Seeds.
Kinds of Fruits
True:• Originate
from gynaecium of a single flower or inflorescence.
False:• Originate from
gynaecium together with other floral parts which modify to form the main part of the fruit (e.g. Apple).
• Fruits are divided according to: 1- Origin. 2- Number of carpels. 3- Nature of the pericarp.
False Fruits
I-True Fruits1- Simple:Formed from a single or a syncarpous gynaecium.
2- Aggregate:Developed from apocarpous gynaecium of a single flowere.g. Star-anise
3- Composite:Formed from the whole inflorescence
1- Simple True Fruits
A- Succulent:• With fleshy pericarp• Classified into:1- Drupe.2- Berry.
B- Dry:• With Dry pericarp• Classified into:1- Dehiscent.2- Indehiscent.3- Schizocarpic.
A- Succulent Simple True Fruits
1- Drupe:1- Fleshy mesocarp.2- Hard endocarp.3- One seeded.Examples:Apricot
Black pepper.
2- Berry:1- Fleshy mesocarp.2- Leathery endocarp.3- Many seeded.Example:Capsicum
B- Dry Simple True Fruits
1- Dehiscent:- Split open
on ripening to disperse seeds
i- Follicle.ii- Legume.iii- Siliqua.iv- Capsule
2- Indehiscent:- Don’t split ,open on ripening.i- Achene.ii- Caryopsis.iii- Cypsela.iv- Samara.v- Nut.
3-Schizocarpic: - Many seeded multilocular fruits. - on ripening, split into closed one seeded indehiscent parts.
1 -Dehiscent Fruits
i- Follicle:1- From monocarpell- ary ovary.2- Split along one side (ventral suture)
ii- Legume (Pod):1- From monocarpell- ary ovary.2- Split along both ventral and dorsal sutures.
iii- Siliqua:1- From monocarp., bilocular ovary.2- Split from base to apex.3- The seeds are attached to the replum.
iv- Capsule• Formed from syncarpous gynaecium. • Split into valves by diferent methods:1- Septicidal (through ventral sutures).2- Loculicidal (through dorsal sutures).3- Septifragal (similar to 1 and 2 but seeds are left
attached to the central axis.
septifragal
2 -Insdehiscent Fruits
i- Achene:• From monocarp.,
uniloc., sup. Ovary.• Membranous
pericarp, not fused with testa.
ii- Caryopsis:• Similar to achene but pericarp is fused with testa.
2 -Insdehiscent Fruits
iii- Cypsela:• From bicarp., uniloc. inf. Ovary.• Pericarp and testa are not fused.
iv- Samara:* From monocarp., uniloc. Ovary.• With
membranous
wings.
v- Nut:• From monocarp., uniloc. Ovary.• With woody pericarp.
Study of Some Important Medicinal Fruits
The Members of Family Umbelliferae
1- Fennel2- Anise3- Coriander4- Caraway5- Dill6- Cumin
7- Ammi visnaga8- Ammi majus
1- Fennel fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Family; Umbelliferae -Pleasant taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries
Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Anethole, Fenchone )
2- Flavonoids 3- Protein 4- Fixed oils
Anethole: distinctive odour & taste.Fenchone: pungent odour & bitter taste.
OCH3
O
FenchoneAnethole
Therapeutic uses 1- Fennel is used as carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of
GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ), Expectorant ( in cases of productive cough ).
- Also used as flavouring agent 2-Fennel Ext. has Antihypertensive action3- Fennel oil has Antioxidant Effect.4- Unproven folk-uses: In India, used as Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Lactogogue
( to increase the milk secretion)
2- Anise (Aniseed ) fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Bimpinella anisum Family; Umbelliferae- It has Aromatic taste and odour- Fruits with Hairy surfaceGeographical source- Mediterranean countries
.
Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( 90 % Anethole )Therapeutic uses 1- Anise is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of
GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ) 2- Other uses:A- Anise oil is effective in treatment of head-lice due to
v.oils action (research, 1996).B- Some folk uses: - Lactagogue, Expectorant, to facilitate birth (unproven effects). Adulterants of Anise- Conium fruits (Hemlock) and Henbane seeds are
the major adulterants of Anise.
3- Coriander fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Coriandrum sativum Family; Umbelliferae - It has Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries
Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Coriandrol, Linalool, Linalool acetate )
Therapeutic uses 1- Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of GIT
disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence )2- It is used in cosmetics industry (perfumes and soap).3- AS spicy.
N.B.
1- Fennel, Anise and Coriander oils have estrogen like compouds, therefore they effective in reliving symptoms which with premenstrual syndrome, menopause and menstrual cycle.
2- Patients with estrogen dependant tumors such as breast or ovarian cancer should not used oils with estrogen like compounds as fennel, anise and coriander oils.
4- Caraway fruits Origin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Carum carvi Family; Umbelliferae- It has Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries
Active constituents 1- Volatile oils
(Carveol, Carvone, Dihydrocarvone )Therapeutic uses
1 -Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence )
specially with infants 2 -Unproven folk uses:
a- Lactagogue. b- Emmenagogue ( To induce menstruation in cases of
menstrual cycle disorder.) c - For treatment of sore throat.
d- As Appetizer For treatment of Anorexia ( appetite loss).
5- Dill fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Anethum graveolens Family; Umbelliferae- Aromatic taste and odourActive constituents - Volatile oils ( Carvone) Therapeutic uses The same uses of Caraway
6- Cumin fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Cuminum cyminum Family; Umbelliferae- Cumin fruits has hairy surface with Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries
Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Cuminaldehyde)
Therapeutic uses 1- Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases
of GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ) specially with infants
2- As Spicy
7- Ammi visnaga fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Ammi visnaga Family; Umbelliferae- Odourless with Bitter tasteGeographical source - Egyptian plant.
Active constituents - Furanochromones ( Derivative of 5,6-benzo-4-pyrone
( Visnagin, Khellin, Khellol, Khellolglucoside
Therapeutic uses 1- Antispasmodic ( GIT, Renal spasms due to it’s Smooth muscle relaxant 2- Act as Coronary vasodilator so it is used in ttt Angina pectoris attacks 3- Act as Bronchodilator so used in ttt Bronchial asthma attacks 4- Act as Smooth muscle relaxant so, It is used in ttt of Renal calculi ( facilitate the passage of renal calculi from the ureters )
Contraindications of A. visnaga1- May cause photodermatitis in sensitive
individuals.2- Pregnancy due to emmenagogue and uterine
stimulating activity of khellin .
8- Ammi majus fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Ammi majus Family; Umbelliferae- Odourless with Pungent taste Geographical source - Egyptian plant..
Active constituents 1- Furanocoumarine
(Derivative of 5,6-benzo-2-pyrone ) ( Psoralen, Bergapten )
R= H Psoralen R= OCH3 Bergapten
Therapeutic uses 1- It is used in ttt Leukoderma ( Vitiligo ) - This form of therapy based on the joint action of medicine and irradiation is called photochemotherapy
O O
R
O
Vitiligo treatment: Before (left), During (middle) & After (right)
- A disorder of skin pigmentation characterized by widening areas of
depigmented skin.- It’s associated with local destruction of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin to darken the skin).-There are theories suggesting autoimmune link, hormonal connection, genetic tendencies, etc.