Differentiating morphological features for look-alike medicinal crude drugs

Abstract

Abstract Background: Differentiation of similar-looking crude drugs when observed separately may, sometimes, be perplexing. Simple manual-based differentiation methods may be helpful in such case at the initial prospect. Materials and Methods: This study aimed at adding some new parameters to the existing methods for the identification and differentiation of crude drugs. This study included similar-looking leaves, roots and seeds/fruits, which were examined by organoleptic, macroscopic, and microscopic characters along with certain add-on parameters such as measurement of length at different points, the shape of the notch of a leaf, the distance between parallel veins, the angle made by the upper and lower end of roots, and sliding microscopy of seeds. Results: The findings proved helpful in the differentiation of similar-looking drugs by additional parameters. Conclusion: Add-on parameters may be used for other similar-looking drugs.