OCCURRENCE OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS IN THE LEAVES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
AbstractCalcium oxalate crystals have a definite biological function in medicinal plants and act as a good diagnostic tool for the identification and detection of adulterants in crude drugs. The occurrence of calcium oxalate crystals was evident in Moringa pterygesperma, Mentha arvensis, Cissus quadrangularis, Murraya koenigii and Amaranthus gangiticus leaves. Rosette, druse, raphides, acicular and prismatic crystals were recorded. The presence of calcium oxalate crystals was confirmed; further Cissus quadrangularis leaves had both druse and raphides belonging to type-II. Druse in Amaranthus gangiticus was the largest, measuring about 12.98-18.82 µm in length, 9.74-14.28 µm in breadth in the light microscope and 22.1 µm Scanning Electron microscopy. Mentha arvensis leaves showed acicular crystals as well as druse in the Scanning Electron Microscope observation.
Article Information
6
389-393
473
3742
English
IJP
R. Anitha * and T. Sandhiya
Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Ethiraj college for women, Ethiraj salai, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
anitha.rajasekaran023@gmail.com
29 April 2014
19 May 2014
29 May 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.1(6).389-93
01 June 2014