Macro-Microscopic Atlas on Heartwood of Santalum album L. (Sandalwood)

Susikumar Sundharamoorthy,Ilavarasan Raju,Arunachalam Chinnapillai,Nartunai Govindarajan

doi:10.5530/pj.2018.4.122

Abstract

Background: Santalum album L. (Fam. Santalaceae) is a small evergreen tree distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, especially in Mysore and Tamil Nadu. The heartwood is highly prized and medicinally useful; Santalum album is one of the ingredients in many Ayurvedic and Siddha formulations. Objective: The present study brings out macro-microscopic atlas on heartwood of medicinal plant Santalum album L. Materials and Methods: Sections and powder were observed and photographed under different magnifications with the help of Olympus BX51 Microscopic unit fitted with Olympus Camera. Results: Macroscopically odour and taste, microscopically tyloses, fibres, tailed pitted vessels, uni and biseriate medullary rays, brownish content and oil globules are the unique diagnostic characters reported. Conclusion: The finding of the present study is believed to be helpful in identifying the correct botanical source of the plant in crude form and also standardization of herbal formulation containing sandalwood as ingredient.

Highlights

IntroductionIn girth, distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, especially in Mysore and Tamil Nadu[1] (Figure 1 A, B, C)
The heartwood of sandalwood (Chandana) is used in hyperacidity, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea with blood, excessive thirst, vomiting, intrinsic haemorrhages, irritable bowel syndrome, hiccough, burning micturi tion etc.,[2,3] The heartwood of Santalum album is used in many Ayurvedic and Siddha formulations namely Ayaskrti, Asvagandhadyarista, Sarviradyasava, Arimedadi Taila, Baladhatryadi Taila, Marma Gutika, Candanasava, Candanadi Curna, Candanadi Taila, Tippilli Ney, Tekkamalli Thailam, Kumari Thailam.[3,4,5]
Findings of this study may be used as atlas on quality standards of heartwood of Santalum album

Summary

Introduction

In girth, distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, especially in Mysore and Tamil Nadu[1] (Figure 1 A, B, C). (Fam. Santalaceae) is a small evergreen tree distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, especially in Mysore and Tamil Nadu. The heartwood is highly prized and medicinally useful; Santalum album is one of the ingredients in many Ayurvedic and Siddha formulations. Objective: The present study brings out macro- microscopic atlas on heartwood of medicinal plant Santalum album L. Conclusion: The finding of the present study is believed to be helpful in identifying the correct botanical source of the plant in crude form and standardization of herbal formulation containing sandalwood as ingredient.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion