PHARMACOGNOSY OF THE LEAF AND ROOT OF BARRINGTONIA ACUTANGULA, GAERTN.

Summary

The macroscopic and microscopic characters of the leaf and root of Barringtonia acutangula Gaertn. are described and illustrated. These parts are used as drug in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. The juice of the leaves is considered useful in diarrhoea and the root cooling and aperient. Both the root and leaves are also used as a bitter tonic. The diagnostic histological features of the leaf include cuticular striations, irregular hypodermis and subepidermal cavities containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate. The root has the secondary phloem arranged in wedge–shaped radiating arms, metatracheal bands of xylem parenchyma, fibres with thick and lamellated wall, tyloses in the vessels, and an eccentric pith of parenchymatous cells and fibres.