Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 219-223  

Preliminary Pharmacognostical profile of Tuvaraka (Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer.) seeds


1 Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
2 Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India

Date of Web Publication1-Mar-2016

Correspondence Address:
Hasmukh Ratilal Jadav
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0975-2870.177669

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Background: Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. of Flacourtiaceae family is one important herbal resource widely used in the treatment of intestinal worms, helminthiasis, infected wounds, skin diseases, fever, piles, wounds and inflammation. Different extracts of this plant have been studied for pharmacological activities such as anti-hyperglycemic activity, anti-hyperlipidemic activity etc. Though it is an important plant, till date, no reported pharmacognostical data are available on seeds. Aim: The present study is aimed towards evaluating in detail pharmacognostical characteristics of the seeds of H. laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. Materials and Methods: Macroscopic and microscopic pharmacognostical characters of seeds were noted by following standard methods. Results: Pharmacognostical evaluation of seed shows the presence of crystalline masses of calcium carbonate, nonpitted sclereids and stone cells, spherical stone cells, aleurone grains, and fragment of tegmen. Conclusion: The current work appears to be first of its kind and can be considered as reference standards for future studies.

Keywords: Hydnocarpus laurifolia, sclereids, seed, stone cells, Tuvaraka


How to cite this article:
Jadav HR, Ruknuddin G, Harisha CR, Kumar PP. Preliminary Pharmacognostical profile of Tuvaraka (Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer.) seeds. Med J DY Patil Univ 2016;9:219-23

How to cite this URL:
Jadav HR, Ruknuddin G, Harisha CR, Kumar PP. Preliminary Pharmacognostical profile of Tuvaraka (Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer.) seeds. Med J DY Patil Univ [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];9:219-23. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/mjdy/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2016/9/2/219/177669


  Introduction Top


India is a land of rich biodiversity, with about 45,000 plant species that are a potential source of medicines since ancient times. [1] Herbal drugs constitute a major part in all the traditional systems of medicines. World Health Organization has made an attempt to identify all medicinal plants used globally and listed more than 20,000 species, and more than 80% of the world's population relies on traditional herbal medicine for their primary health care. [2],[3]

Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. is a plant belongs to the family Flacourtiaceae which grows in tropical forests along the Western Ghats, along the coast in Maharashtra to Kerala, Assam, Tripura, often planted on road sides in hilly areas. The plant is abundantly found in Sri Lanka. Hydnocarpus pentandra (Buch-Ham) Oken. and Hydnocarpus wightiana Blume are synonyms of this plant and commonly known as Chalmogra in India. [4]

It is one of the important plants known as Tuvaraka in Sanskrit, is useful in the treatment of intestinal worms, helminthiasis, infected wounds, skin diseases, fever, piles, and wounds with inflammation. [5],[6] In Ayurveda, it is advocated in Krimi (intestinal worms), Jwara (fever), Anaha (indigestion), Prameha (diabetes mellitus), etc. [7] Decoction or paste is useful in Puti Yoni Strava (infectious vaginal secretion). [8] Seed oil is used in Kustha (skin diseases) and Madhumeha (diabetes mellitus). [9] Ethanolic extract of H. wightiana Blume possess anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. [5] Chloroform extract of H. laurifolia seed possess anti diabetic, [10] anti hyperglycemic, and anti hyperlipidemic [11] effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thus, it is important to know the identification points on which it can be authenticated genuinely. Considering this, an attempt has been made to establish preliminary pharmacognostical profile of seed which may be considered as a reference standard for future study. This helps in further research on seeds and other parts of the same plant and also other plant species.


  Materials and Methods Top


Collection

Fresh fruits of H. laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. were collected from Mangaluru in the month of March 2015 as per the collection standards. [12] The plant specimen was authenticated by the pharmacognosist, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. Seeds were separated; shade dried; pulverized; sieved through 80 meshes; and preserved in an air tight glass bottle.

Morphology

Characteristics of fruits and seeds were scientifically studied as per taxonomy. [13]

Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation

Thin free-hand transverse sections (TSs) of fresh seed were taken by following standard methods. [14] To identify various cellular constituents, the sections were treated with phloroglucinol and hydrochloric acid. [15] Photomicrographs were taken by using a canon digital camera attached to a Carl Zeiss binocular microscope. Powder microscopy of the seed was also carried out with stain and without stain, and photomicrographs were taken.

Organoleptic characters

Color, taste, odor, and powder nature were recorded by sensory characters. [16]

Histochemical evaluation

Thick sections were subjected to histochemical tests to find out the presence of starch, tannin, calcium, lignified cells, calcium oxalate crystals, oil globule, and calcium carbonate by treating with various reagents such as phloroglucinol + concentrated HCL, iodine, Sudan III, and HCL respectively. [17]


  Results Top


Morphology

The tree grows up to a height of 10 m tall, is deciduous as well as ever green too. Bark is brownish, fissured; blaze pinkish. Branch lets are round in shape, minutely, velvet-hairy. Leaves are simple, alternate, and carried on 0.7-2.2 cm long stalks. Leaves are 8-23 cm × 3.5-10 cm, usually oblong to elliptic-oblong, tip long-pointed, often falling off, base narrow, margin toothed, papery, and hairless. Midrib is raised above; secondary nerves of 5-7 pairs. Flowers are borne in short cymes or solitary in the leaf axils. Petals are white. Berry is woody, round, 6-10 cm across usually brown tomentose, and black when young; seeds were numerous. The flowering takes place from January to April. Flowers are greenish-white in color, grow solitary or recemes. [4]

Fruit

The fruits are globose or ovoid, some 10 cm in diameter with a thick woody rind. Internally, they contain 10-16 black seeds embedded in the fruit pulp. The seeds account for some 20% of the fruit weight. Seeds obtusely angular, embedded in scants white pulp, and firmly adherent to the thin black testa. When the pulp is peeled off, the outer surface of the testa is seen to be rough and striated by shallow longitudinal grooves. Inside the shell is copious oily albumen, containing two large, plain heart-shaped and leafy cotyledons. The albumen when fresh is white but turns to dark brown color in the dry seeds.

Seed

Seeds are ovoid, irregular and angular, dorsiventral, slightly flattened, massive, lump-like, of various shapes, 2.54-3.175 cm long, 2.54 cm wide, and 0.4-0.5 cm in thickness toward the apex, skin is smooth, gray, and brittle; kernel oily and dark brown; hilum lies at a small circular elevation located at the base and micropyle adjacent to it. It has characteristic nauseous odor, acrid taste and oily on touch.

Pharmacognostical evaluation

Microscopic findings

TS of the seed was oval in outline, showed outer thin testa, centrally located, and linearly arranged thin cotyledon encircled by endosperm.

Detailed TS shows an outer layer of epidermis, and 2-3 rows of parenchymatous cells of hypodermis, which was more layered under the ridge region, embedded with crystalline masses of calcium carbonate, followed by a very wide zone of nonpitted sclereids and stone cells of different sizes and shapes, the outermost 6-10 rows consists of sinuously running broad band of spherical stone cells, embedded with big angular crystals of unknown nature, insoluble in acids and alkalies, and at places showed few small-sized stone cells also; underneath 8-12 rows of small-sized stone cells embedded with yellow and at places with reddish brown contents, and transversely running isolated or groups of sclereids; followed by the innermost irregularly running elongated sclereids of various sizes embedded at places with reddish-brown content and few small-sized stone cells, and a narrow band of collapsed cells with brown content being located underneath this [Figure 1].
Figure 1: Transverse section pf Tuvaraka seed (a) fresh flower (b) measurement of seed (c) cotyledon with radical (d) epidermis with steroids and stone cell layers (e) transverse section with epidermis, stone cell layers (f) transverse section through group of stone cell layers (g) lignified stone cell, and steroids (h) with testa and tegma

Click here to view


Tegma shows 5-6 rows of tangentially elongated dark brown colored parenchymatous cells, embedded with isolated or groups of sclereids, followed by a wide zone of endosperm embedded with oil content and aleurone grains; while they are obliterated in the later case. The innermost layer of endosperm consists of tangentially running band of collapsed parenchyma cells [Figure 1].

Powder microscopy

Seed powder also found to hold characteristic nauseous odor and acrid taste. the sample was oily on touch. When studied under microscope, the diagnostic characters of seed powder such as transversely cut fragment of endosperm showing outer epidermis and underlined mesophyll cells, sclereids and stone cells from innermost stony band, isolated sclereids and stone cells embedded with unknown crystals, cells of hypodermis embedded with crystals and adjacent stone cells in surface view, fragment of tegmen in sectional view embedded with stone cells and sclereids, and parenchyma cells consisting of oil globules and aleurone grains. Isolated and groups of stone cells and fragment of tegmen in surface view were shown in [Figure 2].
Figure 2: Powder microscopy of Tuvaraka seed (a) fragment of epidermal cells (b) stone cells with yellow content (c) lignifi ed steroids (d) lignified stone cells (e) oil globules, and aleurone grains (f) stone cells with tannin content

Click here to view


Histochemical evaluation

Thick sections treated with phloroglucinol + concentrated HCL, observed red color and dissolved indicating presence of lignified cells and calcium oxalate crystals. When it was treated with Iodine Sudan III, blue and red color was observed indicating the presence of starch grains and oil globule. Effervesces was observed after it was treated with HCL indicating the presence of calcium carbonate [Table 1].
Table 1: Histochemical evaluation of thick sections of the seeds of Tuvaraka

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


Tuvaraka, H. laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. is a 10 m tall tree with simple leaves. Flowers are greenish-white in color, borne in short cymes or solitary, and growth takes place from January to April. Fruits are globose or ovoid with a thick woody rind contains 10-16 black seeds embedded in the fruit pulp. Inside the shell is copious oily albumen, containing two large, plain heart-shaped, and leafy cotyledons. The albumen when fresh is white but turns to dark brown color in the dry seeds. Seeds are ovoid, irregular, dorsiventral, slightly flattened, massive, and lump-like, of various shapes. They possesses nauseous odor, acrid taste and oily to touch.

TS shows an outer layer of epidermis, parenchymatous cells of hypodermis, embedded with crystalline masses of calcium carbonate, nonpitted sclereids, and spherical stone cells. Tegma shows dark brown colored parenchymatous cells, embedded with isolated or groups of sclereids, wide zone of endosperm embedded with oil content and aleurone grains; while they are obliterated in the later case. The innermost layer of endosperm consists of tangentially running band of collapsed parenchyma cells.

In powder microscopy, the diagnostic characters such as fragment of endosperm showing outer epidermis and underlined mesophyll cells, sclereids and stone cells, fragment of tegmen with stone cells and sclereids, parenchyma cells consisting oil globules, and aleurone grains were observed.

Family Flacourtiaceae is mainly represented by the dominant characters, that is, schizogenous cavities and solitary and cluster crystals of calcium oxalate. [18] Tuvaraka is also dominated by the calcium oxalate crystals and it is rich in oil. Seed oil is used in Kustha (skin diseases). [9] Oil mainly consists of fixed oil containing glycerides of palmitic, hydnocarpic, and chaulmoorgic acids, these may able to help in curing the skin diseases. [19] Cotyledons (endosperm) showed that cells were completely loaded by the fixed oil, crystals of calcium oxalate, and aleurone grains.


  Conclusion Top


Pharmacognostical study of H. laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer. provides specific parameters to identify and authenticate the drug. The layer of epidermis, hypodermis along with parenchymatous cells, crystalline masses of calcium carbonate, nonpitted sclereids and stone cells, spherical stone cells, aleurone grains, and fragment of tegmen are the prominent characteristics of the seeds of the plant, which distinguish from other parts of the same plant and also from other plant species.

Financial support and sponsorship

Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Elumalai EK, Chandrasekaran N, Thirumalai N, Sivakumar C, Viviyan TS, David E. Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts inhibitited fungal growth. Int J Pharm Res 2009;4:1576-9.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Vijayan A, Liju VB, John JV, Parthipan B, Renuka C. Traditional remedies of Kani tribes of Kottoor reserve forest, Agasthyavanam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2007;6:589-94.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Pandey MM, Rastogi S, Rawat AK. Indian herbal drug for general healthcare: An overview. Internet J Altern Med 2008;6: 1-10.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
5.
Reddy JK, Rao BS, Reddy TS, Priyanka B. Anti-diabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Hydnocarpus wightiana Blume using STZ induced diabetes in SD rats. IOSR J Pharm 2013;3:29-40.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Sini H, Mohanan PV, Devi KS. Insecticidal activity, cytogenecity and metabolism of fatty acid rich fraction of Hydnocarpus laurifolia. Toxicol Environ Chem 2005;87:91-8.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Ambikadatta S, editor. Susruta Samhita of Maharsi Susruta, Sutra Sthana. Ch. 46. Ver. 195-196. Varanasi, India: Chaukhambha Sanskrita Sansthan; 2010. p. 259.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Brahmanand T, editor. Charak Samhita of Maharsi Charaka, Chikitsa Sthana. Ch. 30. Ver. 124. Varanasi, India: Chaukhambha Surbharti Prakashan; 2009. p. 1033.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Ambikadatta S, editor. Susruta Samhita of Maharsi Susruta, Chikitsa Sthana. Ch. 13. Ver. 20-34. Varanasi, India: Chaukhambha Sanskrita Sansthan; 2010. p. 84.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Rao S, Mohan K, Srinivas P. Evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of Hydnocarpus laurifolia in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Asin J Pharm Clin Res 2014;7:62-4.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Rao S, Mohan K. Evaluation of anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of chloroform extract of Hydnocarpus laurifolia seed on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Int J Adv Pharm Sci 2014;5:2351-5.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Ashok B. Introduction. In: Practical Botany. Meerut: Rastogi Publication; 2007. p. 8-11.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Sharma OP. Plant Taxonomy. 2 nd ed. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Education Private Ltd.; 2009. p. 286-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Wallis TE. Textbook of Pharmacognosy. 5 th ed. New Delhi: CBS Publishers; 1985.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Trease GE, Evans WC. Pharmacognosy. 12 th ed. U.K: Baillier Tindall Can Macmillan Publishers; 1983. p. 95-9, 512-47.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Khandelwal KR. Practical and Pharmacognosy: Techniques and Experiments. 17 th ed. Pune: Nirali Prakashan; 2008. p. 10-9.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Krishnamurty KV. Methods in Plant Histochemistry. Madras: Vishwanadhan Pvt. Limted; 1988. p. 1-77.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Mecalfe CR, Chalk L. Anotomy of the Dictyledons. Vol. I. Oxford: The Clarendon Press; 1950. p. 116.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Chauhan MG, Pillai AP. Microscopic proile of drugs used in Indian system of medicine. Seeds drug. Part 1. Vol. 3. Ahmedabad: Surya Offset; 2011. p. 85.  Back to cited text no. 19
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1]


This article has been cited by
1 Phytochemical characterization and evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anticancer activities of ethyl acetate seed extract of Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer
Minakshi Rajput, Navneet Bithel
3 Biotech. 2022; 12(9)
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and uses of common ayurvedic medicinal plants: a future source of new drugs
Parul Kaushik, Priyanka Ahlawat, Kuldeep Singh, Raman Singh
Advances in Traditional Medicine. 2021;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
   
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Me...
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures
Article Tables

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed4855    
    Printed108    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded276    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 2    

Recommend this journal