Anatomical atlas of Panchavalkala – effective healing five bark drugs in gynaecological disorders

Abstract

About: Panchavalkala is a combination of five bark drugs indicated in wide range of therapeutics in Ayurveda. These are the barks of five trees ie. Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis L.), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa L.), Ashwatha (Ficus religiosa L.), Plaksha (Ficus lacor Buch. Ham.), Parisha (Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol.ex Correa). Barks of these trees are dried in shade and are used for different formulations, in different pathological conditions, especially as wound healing and gynaecological disorders. Because of similar appearance of these five barks usually said to be adulterated with other barks of same species. Macro-microscopic works done under scientific guidelines are easy evident sources to prevent such problems. Materials and Methods: Bark samples of PVK were collected from their natural habitat, authenticated using floras and botanist’s opinion. Macro-microscopic features of these samples were taken as per standard protocol. Results: Bark samples of PVK were thick and fibrous except T. populnea which was thick with transverse crack and fissure, whereas bark of F. racemosa was mucilaginous and F. lacor had transversely arranged lip shaped lenticels on outer surface. Wide secondary phloem and masses of stone cells; thick lignified cortical cells, secondary phloem with sieve tubes and laticiferous cells in the region of phloem were marked histological features of F. religiosa and F. racemosa respectively. F. benghalensis shows a wide secondary cortex with groups of stone cells, pitted cells while a wide secondary phloem is the feature of F. lacor. Starch grain, crystals of calcium oxalate, stone cells were common among powder characters of each sample of PVK.