Cytomorphological Studies on Stem of Luffa echinata Roxb

S Jayalakshmi,A.K Wahi

doi:10.4103/0975-1483.66800

Abstract

Luffa echinata Roxb., commonly known as Bindal in Hindi is used for its hypoglycemic activity in the indigenous system of medicine. No pharmacognostical study on stem is reported in the literature till date; therefore, it was decided to study macroscopical and cytomorphological characters in detail to bring out salient diagnostic features. The stem pieces available in the market are 1.5–17 cm long and 5–8 mm in diameter, showing yellowish-brown to brownish-black surface with longitudinal furrows, fracture is fibrous, and taste is bitter. Mature stem shows single-layered epidermis, seven layers of collenchyma below five ridges but one to two layers of parenchyma in rest of the region beneath the epidermis, continuous wide wavy layer of pericycle composed of three to eight layers of fiber. There are five conjoint bi-collateral open vascular bundles one below each ridge and additional four medullary vascular bundles in the pith each facing furrows.

Highlights

IntroductionLuffa echinata Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) is a climber, commonly known in Hindi as Bindal[1] and is found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Sind, Bundelkhand, Dehradun, and in tropical Africa.[2,3] The plant is reported to be emetic, anthelmintic, blood purifier, purgative, antiseptic, antitubercular and useful for anal disease, inflammation, bronchitis, fever, anemia, jaundice, hiccough, and phthisis.[4,5,6,7] No pharmacognostical study on stem is on record till date; therefore, the detailed macroscopical and cytomorphological study of stem of L. echinata was carried out to bring out the salient diagnostic features, which would enable one to identify the drug available in the market
No pharmacognostical study on stem is on record till date; the detailed macroscopical and cytomorphological study of stem of L. echinata was carried out to bring out the salient diagnostic features, which would enable one to identify the drug available in the market
The young stem [Figures 2 and 4] shows single-layered epidermis covered with a thin cuticle and is followed by three to four layers of collenchymatous cells facing ridges and two layers facing furrows showing more prominent angular thickening in cells below ridges

Summary

Introduction

Luffa echinata Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) is a climber, commonly known in Hindi as Bindal[1] and is found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Sind, Bundelkhand, Dehradun, and in tropical Africa.[2,3] The plant is reported to be emetic, anthelmintic, blood purifier, purgative, antiseptic, antitubercular and useful for anal disease, inflammation, bronchitis, fever, anemia, jaundice, hiccough, and phthisis.[4,5,6,7] No pharmacognostical study on stem is on record till date; therefore, the detailed macroscopical and cytomorphological study of stem of L. echinata was carried out to bring out the salient diagnostic features, which would enable one to identify the drug available in the market.

Methods

Results

Conclusion