selected medicinal plants - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants
to width being approximately 1.6:1.0; two ventral ridges prolonged into
wide yellowish membranous wings; three dorsal ridges, brown, inconspicuous.
Transversely cut surface of the fruit surface shows six vittae,
four in the dorsal and two in the commissural side; fi ve vascular bundles,
three in the ridges and two in the wings, those in the wings being wider
than those in the ridges (1, 4, 5).
Organoleptic properties
Odour: characteristic, aromatic; taste: characteristic, pleasant (1, 4, 5).
Microscopic characteristics
Mericarp has four vittae in the dorsal and two in the commissural side.
Outer epidermis has a striated cuticle. Mesocarp contains lignifi ed, reticulate
parenchyma. Inner epidermis composed of tabular cells frequently
with wavy walls, tabular cells all parallel (e.g. parquet arrangement).
Thick-walled parenchyma of the endosperm contains fi xed oil, aleurone
grains and microrosette crystals of calcium oxalate (1, 4, 14, 15).
Powdered plant material
Greyish-brown powder characterized by fragments of pericarp with a
few brownish pieces of vittae. Outer epidermis has striated cuticle. Mesocarp
fragments show lignifi ed reticulate parenchyma, inner epidermis,
tabular cells frequently wavy walled, numerous fragments of endosperm;
aleurone grains, fi xed oil and microrosette crystals of calcium oxalate (1).
General identity tests
Macroscopic and microscopic examinations (1, 2), and thin-layer chromatography
(2).
Purity tests
Microbiological
Tests for specifi c microorganisms and microbial contamination limits are
as described in the WHO guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal
plants (16).
Chemical
Not less than 3.0% essential oil (2).
Foreign organic matter
Not more than 2.0% (1).
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