A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERS OF POWDER OF LEAVES OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI

Abstract

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, commonly known as Jamun and belonging to the Myricaceae family, holds significant medicinal importance in Ayurveda. Despite its widespread medicinal applications, there is a lack of published information on the pharmacognostic characterization and physicochemical analysis of its leaves. The study employed various measures, including macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, physicochemical evaluation, fluorescence analysis, and preliminary phytochemical screening, to address this gap. Microscopic evaluation revealed distinctive features aiding in the identification of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels leaves. The transverse section exhibited a single layer of wavy epidermal cells with a striated cuticle, a single layer of palisade beneath the upper epidermis in the lamina region, spheraphide in the lamina region, collenchyma in the midrib region below the upper epidermis and above the lower epidermis, and xylem and phloem in the center. Sclerenchyma was observed between the vascular bundle and collenchyma in the midrib region. The powder microscopy further revealed features such as wavy epidermal cells in the upper epidermis, anisocytic stomata in the lower epidermis, bordered pitted reticulate vessels, a calcium oxalate crystal sheath in the lamina, and fragments of fibers and spiral vessels. Physicochemical studies reported total ash (3.1%), acid-insoluble ash (0.7%), alcohol-soluble extractive values (10.96%), and water-soluble extractive values (12.32%). Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of sugar, lipid, glycoside, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, and steroids. This study serves as the initial documentation of pharmacognostic characters and physicochemical parameters, offering valuable insights for the identification and authentication of Syzygium cumini leaves.