Anatomical studies on medicinal and endangered CAM plants of Milkweed family from Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India.

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to screen anatomical features of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br., Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa and var. lushii (Grah.), belonging to family Asclepiadaceae. Plant specimens were collected from semi-arid region of Thar Desert in Rajasthan. These plants are medicinally important and endangered, have been traditionally used as an antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancerous and antioxidant. Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. is used to cure diarrhoea, oedema and tuberculosis. Ceropegia species is used to cure deafness. Tubers are used in the treatment of kidney stone, urinary tracts diseases and eaten by ladies to enhance fertility and viability. The microscopical illustrations revealed interesting features i.e. presence of stone cells, rosette crystals, oil globules, phloem fibers, intraxylary phloem, pericycle patches, large medullary rays, annular vessels, more amount of palisade, mesophyll and multi-cellular trichomes etc. These features supported the habitat condition of Thar Desert and its Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) nature. This study provides referential pharmaco-botanical information for identification, authentication, standardization and detection of adaptation strategies and to develop a protocol to conserve them for further use.