Pharmacognostical and physicochemical evaluation on vata (ficus benghalensis linn.) Jata (Aerial Roots)

Abstract

Introduction: Vata (Ficus benghalensis Linn.) is a sacred medicinal plant since Vedic times. It spread all over by its hanging or supporting roots, hence called as Vata. Aims: The aim was to study the macro- and microscopic characters, physiochemical and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) profile of Vata (F. benghalensis Linn.) Jata (aerial roots). Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on authenticated plant materials, following standard procedures. Macroscopic and microscopic pharmacognostical characters of aerial roots and histochemical studies were noted. Results: Externally, the aerial root is gray and rough along with transverse rows of lenticels. Inner part of the aerial root is reddishbrown fibrous nature in bark portion. The powder microscopy study revealed the presence of fragment of simple fiber without lumen, stone cells with tannin, simple starch grain with hilum, compound starch grain, fiber with denim contents, latex contents, tannin contents rhomboidal crystal 2, rhomboidal crystal 3, group of stone cell with tannin, and fiber passing through medullary rays. Discussion: Transverse section of aerial root showed outer interesting exodermis followed by cork and cortex. Cortex region abundantly enriched by calcium oxalate crystal and tannin content are the diagnostic characters. Conclusion: Results of pharmacognostical and physiochemical analysis including HPTLC on aerial roots will help in further standardization.