Pharmacognostic study of Procris repens

Abstract

Objective: To study the microscopy, powder microscopy and macroscopy of a medicinal plant of significant interest, Procris repens (Lour.) B.J. Conn and Hadiah.Methods: Various pharmacognostic parameters involved in organoleptic, microscopic and powder microscopic evaluation were carried out. Results: microscopy of the leaf shows uniseriate upper and lower epidermis covered with cuticle. Mesophyll layer cannot distinguished to palisade and spongy parenchyma. Chlorophyll is found in this region. Cystoliths and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate are present in leaf lamina. Anisocytic stomata and unicellular trichomes are present. Transverse section of Procris repens (stem) shows outer unicellular epidermis covered with cuticle. Epidermis is followed by 2-3 layered collenchymatous hypodermis. Hypodermal cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate. Transverse section of Procris repens (Root) shows outer cork region. Cork is followed by cortex which is made up of parenchymatous cells. Rosette crystals of calcium oxalate are present in this region. Powder microscopy shows crystals of calcium oxalate, large number of round to elongated simple starch grains, a fragment of mesophyll cells and stomata. Fragments of vascular elements which shows spiral vessels, bordered pitted vessels and annular vessels are seen. Golden yellow coloured contents, fragments of epidermal cells with unicellular trichome and non-lignified fiber with narrow lumen are also present.Conclusion: The present study provides some valuable information with respect to its identification and authentication of Procris repens.