Botanical Studies of Plants Sold in Market as Safed Musli

Publication Ref No.: IJPRD/2011/PUB/ARTI/VOV-3/ISSUE-1/MARCH/001 ISSN 0974 – 9446

International Journal of Pharma Research and Development – Online

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BOTANICAL STUDIES OF PLANTS SOLD IN MARKET AS ‘SAFE D MUSLI’

S.K.Panda 1*, D.Das 2, N.K.Tripathy3

1The Pharmaceutical College, Samaleswari Vihar, Tingipali, Barpali - 768 029

2School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SOA University , Bhubaneswar -751 030

3Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Berhampur - 760 007

Email : [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Six crude drug samples claimed as ‘Safed Musli’ were collected from different sources and studied for their botanical characters for proper identification. The botanical studies dealt with exomorphology of plant, morphological & microscopical root tuber characters and reported. Based on these observations, it is suggested that there is a need for the authentication of sample of the crude drug purchased from market at any form or stage under the trade name ‘Safed Musli’ before their utilization.

Key Words: Safed musli, Liliaceae, Chlorophytum, Asparagus, Ethnomedicine, Modern medicine. INTRODUCTION

For study of any known or unknown plants, proper botanical identification is playing a vital role. The knowledge regarding identification parameters of a plant is required for collection of the true plant from available sources. The biological activities are varying from plant to plant i.e. different species of same origin genus and family. In traditional system of medicine, plants were documented with their synonyms, which explain various aspects of the

plants like external morphology, pharmaceutical property, action, uses, country of origin etc. without botanical system to describe a plant. This possesses greater difficulties in botanical identification of the classical plants. Similarly, controversy also arises on a drug, when the origin of particular drug assigned to more then one plant.

Various plants belonging to genera Chlorophytum and Asparagus used by both in medical and commercial parlance by the

S.K. Panda



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common name of ‘Safed musli’ because of their white tuberous roots with some sort of aphrodiasic properties. The plants like Chlorophytum borivilianum, Chlorophytum tuberosum, Chlorophytum arundinaceum, Chlorophytum laxum, Asparagus rasemosus and Asparagus adscendens, so far documented can be regarded as ‘Safed Musli’ vis-à-vis alternative for each other, as per availability throughout the country, rather than choice, has become the factor for their use as such. Obviously a difference will lie in their efficacy depending upon the percentage of active principle/ principles and therapeutics employed. Being, controversy in the name and higher price, there is a lot of scope for adulteration and substitution. After analyzing the chemical and modern description in detail, the recent author concluded that Chlorophytum borivilianum is the correct botanical source of ‘Safed musli’ and reported with justification. Here, an attempt has been made further to identify and differentiated Chlorophytum borivilianum from other available crude drug in trade as ‘Safed musli’. Objective - The work dealt with studies of botanical parameters (Exomorphology, morphology and microscopical) to identify true ‘Safed musli’ and prevent adulteration & substitution of this precious drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Authenticated planting materials of Chlorophytum borivilianum root tubers were collected from NRC for M & AP, Anand, Gujrat bearing DS no. 413 dated 5th July 2004. The planting materials were used for cultivation by following the standard method and harvested in time to get better yield and more Percentage of active principles. Few entire plant specimens with all characteristic features have been preserved for the botanical studies. Few entire plant specimens with all characteristic features

and bulk root tubers were collected from M/S Spak Agro, Cuttack, an authenticated commercial cultivators of drug, who has procured planting materials from M/S Nandan Agro Farms (p) Ltd, Hydrabad-82. Three species of Chlorophytum Ker-Gawl and two species of Asparagus Linn. entire plant specimens with all characteristic features were collected from dense forest of Phulbani by the help of few local kondha tribals having knowledge and practice of herbal remedies for various ailments. All the above collected plant materials were identified as Chlorophytum borivilianum (Cultivated ,D.S. No. - 413), C. borivilianum (Commercial, Spak Agro), C. laxum, C. arundinasium, C. tuberosum, A. racemosus and A. adscendens by scientist of IMMT ( formerly R.R.L.,BBSR) and Dept. of Botany, Revenshaw college, Cuttack with the help of authentic herbarium species. The voucher specimens were preserved in our department for future references.

Entire plant samples of each specimen with all characteristic features and few unpeeled and peeled root tubers of them were marked and store in formalin aceto-alcohol solutions. Remaining samples of each specimen were separately marked and free from aerial parts & wiry rootlets, then washed separately under running water to clean adhering dirt materials and then peeled and dried under shade. Further few dried samples of each specimen were kept intact and remaining were coarsely powdered in to 40 meshes by means of a mechanical grinder & stored separately in air tight container with proper label.

Evaluation of Exo-morphological plant characters All collected entire plant specimen of seven samples were studied for their exo-morphological characters like root tuber nos, length & diameter, shape, length & width of leaf



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blade with other leaf characters, stem, flower, fruit & seed and expressed in table 1 & fig. 1-3. Evaluation of morphological root tuber characters Only fresh root tuber of collected seven samples were taken and studied for their all morphological/Organoleptic characters like form, condition, shape, size, colour, texture, fracture, odour, taste and other features observed in outer surface and expressed in table 2 & fig. 4-10. Evaluation of microscopical root tuber characters Further, microscopical characters of root tuber and powdered samples of all collected seven specimens were studied for their histological characters and recorded in table -3 & 4 respectively and represented in fig. 11-14.

All above stated studies were carried out by taking preserved samples of each specimen as required for individual study. They were studied under dissecting and compound microscope for entire plant and root microscopical characters of each specimen respectively as per protocol. Authentic herbarium specimens and literatures were consulted as standard references for comparative studies and key identification characters of individual specimens were recorded. Only required figures were given for more clarity in the subjected studies and to identify the true drug Chlorophytum borivilianum from others. OBSERVATION AND DISCUSSIONS

Major taxonomical characters of four species of Chlorophytum with five no of samples and two species of Asparagus with two samples were examined and major findings were analyzed here on gross with major key identification characters of each sample. Exo-morphological plant and root tuber characters were evaluated and recorded in Table-1 & 2 with Fig- 1 to 10.

Key identification characters of genus ‘Chlorophytum’

1. Root stock short or a bulb. 2. Flowers recemed, ovarian cells 4-6

ovuled. 3. Perianth segments distinct. 4. Fruits a normally opening capsule and 3

winged. 5. Filaments are free and superior ovary 6.

Common Characters of “Chlorophytum Species” All species of Chlorophytum were perennial herbs and regenerated each year from condensed rhizomes. Root and root tubers were bundle of more or less thickened adventitious fleshy fibres,either cylindrical or tapering gradually to the end or thickened some distance from the base of the plant into tubers. But in C. borivilianum directly from the base of the plant . These were brown or reddish brown outside in colour and 5 to 30 cm in length with 0.3 – 2.5cm in diameters, covered with few minute scales with rosette of leaves from the crown. Leaves were linear, chartaceous with close distinct vertical ribs without transverse venules or membranous, oblong or lanceolate, lamina narrowed into clasping petioles and arranged alternately. But in C. laxum it is subdistichous. Scapes were caulescent, naked or with one or more sheaths, simple & rarely branched. In general, they were shorter than leaves except few cases where it large sometimes upto 90cm long. Bracts were linear or lanceolate, cymbiform or amplexicaul, coloured, small and scarious or large and membranous, persistent. Inflorescences were simple recemes and in some cases compound, much elongated. Flowers were generally small, in very close cluster or in distant cluster of 2 or 3, articulated, at or above the middle.



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Perianth are whitish and sometimes greenish, funnel shaped or rotate, 6 segments in 2 whorls inner segments broader and blunt, imbricate aestivation, marcescent rarely persistent, dorsal nerves of the segments vary from 3 – 7. Androceum contained 6 stamens, free or the inner 3 adnate to the base or the perianth, filament and anthers vary greatly, usually filaments subulate and stamens included or papillose, anther linear rarely oblong. Gynoceium contained 3 carpels, placentation axile, ovary 3-lobed, more or less globose, sessile or subsessile, trilocular, style simple, terminal, long, filiform, stigma simple and rarely capitate.

Capsule was acutely triquetrous,coriaceous, truncate or emerginate, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds were small and vary in number from 2 – 16 with copious endosperm, testa thin and colour brown or black. Key identification characters of individual ‘Chlorophytum species ’ a. Key Identification characters of plant C. arundinaceum :-

1. Leaves up to 20cm long and 2.5 – 6cm wide, perianth unite and 7.5 – 15mm long.

2. Raceme continous, often subpyramidal with short branches at base.

3. Tepals oblong-lanceolate mostly acute. 4. Bracts more then 8mm long and over

topping the buds. b. Key Identification characters of plant C. tuberosum :-

1. Leaves 2.5 – 6cm wide, perianth unite and 7.5 -15mm long, ensiform, not more than one sheath.

2. Racemes interrupted. 3. Tepals elliptic rounded. 4. Bracts mostly shorter than the buds 5. Scape usually longer than the leaves.

The main distinguished characters of plant C. tuberosum was anther, which was longer than

the filament, absence of skeptal nectaries and large conspicuous flowers with 5 -7 nerved perianth segments. c. Key Identification characters of C. laxum :-

1. Leaves are linear less then 1-2cm wide. 2. Perianth greenish-white under 6.2mm

long. 3. Scape filiform and flexuous.

d. The key identification characters of plant C. borivilianum (Fig-1)

The root tubers of C. borivilianum arised direct from the base and distinguished it from other species of Chlorophytum genus. The shape of tubers were cylindrical and slightly tapering towards lower side look like pestle. The leaf lanceolate or linear and less than 30cm long.

Key Identifying Charactes Of Genus ‘Asparagus’ :-

1. Stem erect or climbing. 2. Leaves replaced by usually linear or

acicular, cladodes. 3. Flowers small, solitary, fascicled or

recemed. Common characters of ‘ Asparagus species’ • Asparagus Linn. root stock stout and creeping. • Stem erect straggling or climbing, terete grooved or angled. • Leaves minute scales, often spinescent, bearing in their axils tufts of needle like or flattened branchlets (Cladodes). • Flowers small or minutes, axillary, rarely unisexual, solitary, fascicled or racemed, pendulous, pedicel jointed. • Perainth campanulate, 6-partite. • Stamen on the bases of the segments. • Anther oblong • Ovary 3-gonous, style-1, Stigmas – 3, Cells-2 or more ovuled. • Berry globose, seeds 2-6, testa, black, brittle, embryo dorsal. •



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Key Identification Characters Of Individual ‘Asparagus Species ’ a. Key Identifying characters of plant Asparagus recemosus:- (Fig - 2)

1. Stem scandent, woody 2. Cladodes 2-6mate

b. Key Identifying characters of plant Asparagus adscendens:- (Fig - 3)

1. Stems erect, much branched 2. Numerous cluster or subulate cladodes

about 1.25cm long.

Microscopical character of fresh and powdered root tubers The microscopical studies of all seven specimens showed few common characters like presence of unicellular root tubers, undifferentiated cortex, radial arrangement of vascular bundles and xylem is exarch in nature, which confirm all are roots. Further, all showed the presence of more than six numbers of radial vascular bundles (polyarch condition) and pith large & distinct, which confirm all were monocot roots. The pattern of distribution of internal characters like Epidermis, Cortex, Endodermis, Pericycle, Pith, Xylem & Phloem were only signifying characters to distinguished the individual specimens in laboratory. (Table - 3) The powder microscopic characters like Vessels, Fibers, Parenchyma, Cork cells, Starch and Calcium oxalate crystals were also playing a vital role for identifying the individual drug in laboratory. (Table - 4)

CONCLUSION In ancient time no botanical system was

in place to describe a plant, but Ayurvedic Materia Medica had its own full proof method of describing a plant. Various plants belonging to the genera Chlorophytum and Asparagus has been used as ‘Safed Musli’ in different parts of our country depending upon their availability with some sort of aphrodisiac properties. All

collected specimens were studied botanically on the basis of quantitative & qualitative characters of the vegetative organs morphologically and microscopically to prevent adulteration and Substitution. The knowledge regarding identification parameters of a plant is helpful for collection of the true plant from available sources either as raw or in finished form. A taxonomical approach was taken here to provide required information to be followed to ensure the authenticity, sustainability and continuous availability of a precious drug ‘Safed Musli’. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are grateful to Dr. S. Maiti, Director, NRC for A & P and Dr. R.V. Singh, Head Germplasm of Exchange Division, NBPGR, New Delhi for supplying of authentic sample. They are also thankful to Dr. A.K. Dalai., Revenshaw College and Dr. Brahmam & Dr. Sexena for IMMT (RRL), Bhubaneswar for authentication of plant. Mr. Anuj Kumar Agrahari and Mr. B.K. Mishra, The Pharmaceutical College, Barpali has helped us in preparation of the manuscript.

REFERENCES 1. The Wealth of India :A Dictionary of Indian

Raw materials, Publications & Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, Volume – 3 (Ca-Ci), Revised Ser 1992, 482-483.

2. Satija J and Singh GK: Safed musli: The goldern root, Indian J. Pharm Edu. Res, 39, 2005, 182-183.

3. Oudhia P: My experience with wonder crop ‘Safed Musli’, In Souvenir of international seminar on Medicinal Plants and Quality Standardization, VHERDS, Chennai, India, 2001

4. Mayank T and Dixit VK: A review on some important medicinal plants of Chlorophytum



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Species, Pharmacogn. Review, 2(3), 2008,168-172.

5. Kirtikar KR and Basu BD Liliaceae, Chlorophytum : KR Kirtikar and BD Basu (Edns), Indian medicinal Plant, B Singh and MP Simgh, Deheradhun, India, 1975: 2508- 2509.

6. Shah GI: Chlorophytum, Ker Flora of Gujurat, Part – II, 1978:610.

7. Nandakarni AK, KM Nandakarni: Indian Materia Medica, Popular book Deport, Lamington Road, Bombay, Edition 3, 1, 1927:208 – 209.

8. Chopra RN, Nayar SL and Chopra IC: Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, New Delhi, 1956;218.

9. Oudhia P., 2000, Can we save the endangered medicinal plant Safed Musli ( Chlorophytum borivilianum) in India forest. An article written for an American site www.herb.com, July –Aug, 2000.

10. .Mishraand JR, Jena PK: Practical Botany, Modern Publishers. New Delhi-2, Edition 2,2006:137.

11. Panda SK. and Das D :A Controversial Plant “Safed Musli’, Drug Invention Today 2(3), 2010: 215-216.

12. Panda SK. and Das D, Preliminary phytochemical studies on root tuber extract of Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & fernandes.

13. Saxena HO, Brahmam M: The flora of Orissa, RRL, CISR, BBSR, 1995: 1956-57 1960-1962.

14. Nayar MP. and Sastry AR: Chlorophytum borivilianum, MP. Nayar and AR. Sastry Eds, Red Data Book of Indian Plants 2, 1988: 375-378.

FIGURES & TABLES

Fig.1: Entire plant Chlorophytum borivilianum

Fig. 2: Entire Plant of Asparagus adscendens (Aa)



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Fig. 3: Entire Plant of Asparagus racemosus (Ar)

Fig. 5 : Root tubers of C. borivilianum(Cb2 Fig. 6 : Root tubers of C.arundinasium(Ca)

Fig. 4 : Root tubers of C. borivilianum (Cb1, DS No.413)Cultivated



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Fig. 7 : Root tubers of C. tuberosum(Ct)

Fig. 9 : Root tubers of Asparagus

Fig. 8 : Root tubers of C. laxum ( Cl)

Fig. 10: Root tubers of Asparagus racemosus



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CORTEX

CUTICLE

EPIBLEMA

HYPODERMIS (EXODERMIS)

ROOT

Fig. 11 :T.S. of C. borivilianum root tuber (Cortex region)( Cb1)

ENDODERM

PROTOXYL

PHLOEMETAXYLE

PIT

CONJUCTIVE PERICYC

Fig. 12 :T.S. of C. borivilianum root tuber (Stele region) (Cb1)



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Fig. 13: T.S of A. adscendens(Aa)

Fig. 14: T.S of A. racemosus(Ar)



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Table.1: Exo – morphological Plant Characters of fr esh entire plant Samples Collected as ‘Safed Musli’

SI No.

Parameters Cb1 Cb2 Ca Ct C l Aa A r

1. (i) i

Root tubers Number per plant

10-15 8-10 15-20 20-24 12-15 30-40 50-60

(ii) Stalk Sessile Sessile Sessile Prominent root stalk

Prominent root stalk

Stalk not prominent. Up to 10-20 cm

Root stalk up to 10-20cm are not prominent

I(iii) Length of tuber

6-18 cm in length & 5-8 mm in diameter

5-15 cm in length & 4-6mm in diameter


4-6 cm in length & 8-15mm in diameter

5-7cm in length 10-18 mm in & diameter


12-20 cm in length &10-14 mm in diameter

I(iv) Shape Tortuous Tortuous Cylindrical & tappering at both ends

Nodulose roots ,ellipsoidal tubers

Nodulose roots long ellipsoidal tubers tapering ends

Fusiform Fusiform

2 2 (i)

Leaf Length of leaf

30.0±6.0cm

25.0±8.0 cm

40.0±5.0cm 60±3.0cm

55±2.0 cm 8-18±3.0 cm 5-13± 2.0 cm

I(ii) Width of blade 1.25-1.75cm

1.0± 1.5 cm

1.5± 2.5 cm 2.0± 2.5 cm

2.0± 2.5 cm Minute Minute

I (iii)

Characters

Radical Spirally imbricate at the base, Sessile, linear or

Radical Oblong imbricate at the base sessile, linear or

Radical, linear oblong, flat or Cananiculate Coriaceous

Radical Broadly linar or usually ensiform Margin usually

Radical Leaves grass like linear Acuminate, slightly keeled,

Cladodes long linear, spines & Stout straight & densely crowded

Scaly,triangular stift acuminate, reduced to suberect or subcurved



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ovate, acute apex, slightly narrowed at the base

ovate, acute apex, slightly narrowed at the base

Prominently nerved, base sheathing or narrowed into petiole, apex gradually tapering above

cripseed acuminate base sheathing

rather thin and shining

spines.

(iv) No of leaves 6-14 5-12 6-18 5-10 7-10 Numerous Numerous

3

Stem

Reduced with root stock





Woody terete stems. Tall, stout,suberect, Cladodes in dense tufts of 6-20 nate

Stems triquetrous with straight or recurved spines, Scandent woody, Cladodes in curved tufts of 2-6 nate.

4

Flower

White, arranged in alternate clusters bracts liner papery and purplish

White, arranged in alternate clusters bracts liner papery and purplish

White, starlike 1-8 bracts lanceolate acuminate

White mostly shorter than the buds, very slender

Greenish white arranged in different pairs, bract small, sublate membranous

White, small solitary or fascicled.

White, sweet scented

5

Fruit

Capsule greenish

Capsule greenish

Capsule depressed

Capsule, oboviod

Capsule subrotund to

Berries are scarlet,trilobe

Beries are red, globose



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yellow triquetrous

yellow triquetrous

globose emarginate.

oblong d trilobed

6

Seed

Endospermic onion –like black coloured, angular, each capsule bearing 14-16 seeds.

3-7 seed / capsule, Black,orbicular.

Black 1-6 per capsules. Suborbicular,black, minutely tessellate or punctuate.

Black 4-10 seeds per capsule.

Black 2-6 per capsule irregularly angled.

Black, 6-10 seeds, shining

Black, 4-8 seeds, shining

Cb1 – C. borivilianum Sant. & F (Cultivated)., Cb2 – C. borivilianum Sant. & F (Commercial). Ca- C. arundinaceum Baker , Ct- C. tuberosum Baker,

Cl- C. laxum R.Br. Aa- A. adscendens Roxb., Ar- A. racemosus Willd. Table.2 : Morphological characters of fresh entire tuberous root samples collected as ‘Safed Musli’

SI No

Parameters Cb1 Cb2 Ca Ct C l Aa A r

1 Form Root Root Root Root Root Root Root 2 Condition Peeled &

dried Peeled & dried

Peeled & dried

Peeled & dried Peeled & dried

Peeled & dried

Peeled & dried

3 Shape Cylindric, long & slender

Cylindric, long & slender

Cylindric, slender & short

Fibrous, long and ending with ellipsoidal tubers

Fibrous long ending with long ellipsoid- -al withTaper- -ing ends.

Fusiform Fusiform

4 Size(Length & diameter

4-8 cm in length 4-8



2-3 cm in length 6-7 mm






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of tubers) mm in diameter

mm in diameter

mm in diameter

in diameter mm in diameter

mm in diameter

mm in diameter

5 Colour Pure White

White to buff white

White to dull white

Wheatish in colour

Dull white in colour

Dull white wheatish in colour

6 Texture Soft Soft Slightly hard Hard as compared to C.borivilianum

Hard as compared to C.borivilianum

Harder as compared toChlorop- -hytum species

More harder as compared toChloroph- ytum species

7

Fracture

Smooth

Smooth

Smooth

Smooth rarely splintery

Smooth rarely splintery

Uneven fracture, broken pieces shows hollow cavity

Uneven fracture, broken pieces shows hollow cavity

8 Odour Characteristic

Characteristic

Characteristic

Characteristic Characteristic Characteristic

Characteristic

9 Taste Mucilaginous sticky, salty

Mucilaginous and sticky

Less Mucilaginous

Sticky, less Mucilaginous

Sticky, less Mucilaginous

Bland taste which becomes bitter after sometimes.

Bland taste which becomes bitter after sometimes.

110

Outer surface

Smooth, longitudinal ridges (irregular) are devel- -oped during drying

Smooth and longitudinal ridges are present.



Smooth and longitudinal ridges are present

Deep, irregular longitudinal furrow andminute transverse wrinkles

Deep, irregular longitudinal furrow and minute transverse wrinkles


Cl- C. laxum R.Br. Aa- A. adscendens Roxb., Ar- A. racemosus Willd.



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Table.3 : Microscopical characters of fresh entire tuberous root samples collected as ‘Safed Musli’

SI No

Character Cb1 Cb2 Ca Ct C l Aa A r

1 Epidermis Epidermis with out cuticle & stomata, many unicellular root hairs

Epidermis with out cuticle & stomata, many unicellular root hairs




Epidermis with out cuticle & stomata many unicellular root hairs

Epidermis with out cuticle & stomata many unicellular root hairs

2 Cortex Round parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces. Starch is absent

Round parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces. Starch is absent


Round parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces. Abundant of starch



Oval, Parenchymatous cells with intercellular space, Starch are also present.

3 Endodermis

Barrel shaped closely arranged parenchymatous cell lies below the cortex & forms a ring





Lies below the cortex and forms a ring, barrel shaped, Parenchymatous cells without intercellular spaces.

Lies below the cortex and forms a ring, barrel shaped, Parenchymatous cells without intercellular spaces.



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4 Pericycle Single layered cells below the endodermis. Uniseriate & composed of thin walled parenchymatous cells.

Single layered cells below the endodermis. Uniseriate & composed of thin walled parenchymatous cells.






5 Pith Rounded parenchymatous cells, large & well developed

Rounded parenchymatous cells

large & well developed

Rounded parenchymatous cells

large & well developed

Compactly arranged thin wall without any intercellular space.

Compactly arranged thin wall without any intercellular space.

6 Xylem Numerous, composed of a single layered round metaxylem towards the pith, protoxylem towards the periphery

Composed of a single layered round, metaxylem towards the pith, protoxyleme is present towards the periphery


Composed of a single layered round, metaxylem towards the pith, protoxyleme is present towards the periphery towards the periphery

Composed of a single layered round, metaxylem towards the pith, protoxyleme is present towards the periphery towards the periphery



7 Phloem Composed of companion

Composed of companion cells and

Composed of companion cells and phloem




Composed of companion



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cells and phloem parenchyma

phloem parenchyma

parenchyma phloem parenchyma

phloem parenchyma

phloem parenchyma. It lies alternate to xylem.

cells and phloem parenchyma, it lies alternate to xylem


Cl- C. laxum R.Br. Aa- A. adscendens Roxb., Ar- A. racemosus Willd. Table.4 : Microscopical Powdered characteristic of root tuber samples collected as ‘Safed Musli’

Sr. No

Character Cb1 Cb2 Ca Ct Cl Aa Ar

1 Colour Pure White White to Buff White

White to dull white

Wheatish in colour



Wheatish in colour

2 Taste Mucilagenou, Sticky in mouth, Salty

Mucilagenous & Sticky.

Less Mucila- -genous

Sticky,less Mucilagenous

Sticky, less Mucilagenous

Bland taste which becomes bitter after sometimes

Bland taste which becomes bitter after sometimes

3 Vessels Annular, few were attached with others.Size: 40 – 70mm

Annular, few were attached with others.Size: 30 – 60mm

Scalariform, few were attached with others.Size: 40 – 50mm

Well developed with recticulate arrangement. size :60 – 70 mm

Scalariform, few were attached with others.Size: 40 – 55mm

Pitted, few were attached with others. Size: 40 – 50mm

Pattern of design is runway, either singly or in groups. Size 18 – 39mm

4 Fibers Occur length wise singly simple fibres.

Occur length wise singly simple

Occur length wise singly simple

Simple occur length wise Size : 5 –

Simple occur length wiseSize : 5

Simple, the tips of few fibres are

Simple, the tips of few fibres are



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Size : 35 – 50mm

fibres. Size : 35 – 50mm

fibres. Size : 35 – 50mm

20mm – 20mm pointed.Size : 3 – 16mm

pointed. Size : 2 – 18mm

5 Starch Absent

Absent

Very rare indistinct helium compound. Size 4-18cm

Rare, Simple, Sperical. Size 3-6mm

Rare, Simple, Sperical. Size 3-6mm

Mostly round, both simple or compound. Size : 6 – 12mm

Mostly round, both simple or compound. Size : 2 – 6mm

6 Parenchyma

Rectangular, pitted, lignified. Size :4 – 6mm

Rectangular pitted, lignified. Size:4– 6mm

Polygonal pitted, lignified. Size:3– 7mm

Rectangular non pitted, lignified. Size:4– 7mm

Rectangular non pitted, lignified. Size:3– 6mm

Elongated, pitted and lignified. Size:6 – 12mm

Elongated,pfitted and lignified. Size:8– 14mm

7 Cork cells Oval or flattened rectangular. Size: 2 – 8mm

Oval or flattened rectangular. Size:2– 8mm

Polygonal or flattened rectangular. Size:2– 6mm

Thin walled, polygonal in Surface view.

Thin walled, flattened outer Surface

Stratifird Cork cells shows striations. Size : 2 – 6 mm

Cb1 – C. borivilianum Sant. & F (Cultivated)., Cb2 – C. borivilianum Sant. & F (Commercial). Ca- C. arundinaceum Baker , Ct- C. tuberosum Baker, Cl- C. laxum R.Br. Aa- A. adscendens Roxb., Ar- A. racemosus Willd.

Botanical Studies of Plants Sold in Market as Safed Musli

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