Pharmacognostical studies on <i style="">Vata shrung,</i> (<i style="">Ficus benghalensis</i> Linn. leaf primordium)

Abstract

The present communication deals with pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochmical studies on the leaf primordium of <i style="">Ficus benghalensis</i>, which is used in <i style="">Pumsavana Samskar</i> of Ayurvedic System of Medicine. Different plants parts are used to cure number of diseases in indigenous system of medicine. No reports are available on microscopical and phytochemical studies, hence, the present attempt was undertaken to investigate the microscopical and preliminary phytochemical studies. The study revealed the presence of simple starch grains, clustered calcium oxalate crystals, patches of rounded to polygonal stone cells with lignified cell walls, broad and narrow lumen, thick walled cells, abundant unicellular trichomes and brown tannin content.