Abstract

POWDER MICROSCOPY OF SAPTAPARNA (ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS LINN.) TWAK CHURNA

Ekta Loriya*, Dr. Dilip Jani and Dr. Dharmendra Jani

ABSTRACT

Background: The present article reveals the pharmacognostical study of Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris Linn.) Twak Churna, a widely used Ayurvedic medicine. Material & Method: Organoleptic and powder microscopic evaluations were conducted to assess the pharmacognostic characteristics of Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris Linn.) Twak Churna. The study was carried out in the Pharmacognosy Laboratory of the Upgraded Department of Dravyaguna, Government Ayurveda College, Vadodara. Observation & Result: Organoleptic characteristics revealed that the Churna is greyish brown in colour, bitter and astringent in taste, and rough in texture. Powder microscopy showed the presence of fragments of stratified cork, stone cells, parenchymatous cells, phloem parenchyma, sclereids, brown content, yellowish content, and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals. Conclusion: These organoleptic and microscopical features are important markers for the identification of Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris Linn.) Twak Churna and help ensure the purity and quality of Ayurvedic formulations by detecting possible adulteration or substitution.

Keywords: Pharmacognosy, Saptaparna Twak Churna, Alstonia scholaris Linn., Powder microscopy, Ayurvedic drug standardization.