Pharmacognostic studies of the fruits of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.)Roxb

Abstract

The fruits of Terminalia bellirica were studied to analyze its pharmacognostic characters. Organoleptic studies of the air dried powdered fruit rind revealed characters like yellowish brown colour, astringent taste and aromatic odour. The fluorescent analysis of the powder after treatment with different chemical reagents under visible and short UV light showed different colour changes. Microscopic evaluation of the fruit rind revealed epidermal hairs, stone cells, starch grains and needle like crystals of Calcium oxalate as the key identifying features which were confirmed by powder microscopy. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponin, carbohydrates and proteins.