Siddha system of therapeutic medicine is largely practiced in the South India and is identified to be very closely related to Tamil civilization. A large number of plants are used for the manufacturing of formulations which are prescribed for various ailments. Root barks possess wide chemical compounds which has immense biological activity and medicinal values. Transformation of the crude drugs into medicine requires quality assurance to the upmost. Aim: Macro-microscopic detailing of three important root bark drugs in Siddha, Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin (Azinjil verpattai) Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. (Aavaram verpattai) and Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng (Marukkarai ver pattai) has been proposed in the current research. Methodology: The root barks were subjected to morphological, anatomical and powder microscopic studies, with the help of Nikon ECLIPSE E200 trinocular microscope attached with Nikon COOLPIX5400 digital camera, following pharmacopoeial procedures. Results: Macroscopically the barks differed in their organoleptic characters. All the three samples showed distinct cork, cortex and phloem region but differed in the number of layers. Stones cells were present in only C. auriculata and C. spinosa. C. auriculata and C. spinosa contained tannin cells. The powder microscopy revealed the presence of different types of crystals in the three species druses in C. auriculata, prismatic in C. spinosa and C. catunaregam is rhomboidal. Discussion: The colour, cracks, fissures and fractures possess affordable useful characters in addition to the macro microscopic character for the identification. The detailed morphology, anatomy and powder microscopic characteristic features of root barks will prove to be an essential database for the accurate identification of these drugs. Conclusion: As these root barks form the major ingredients of a large number of Siddha formulations the study will substantiate to be a great contrivance in their correct identification.

Introduction: Begonia albococcinea Hook. commonly known as Kalthamarai is a succulent herb which finds its usage into traditional medicine. This herb has a limited distribution pattern in the southern Western Ghats region and the population is diminishing due to its habitat destruction. Materials and Methods: Authenticated plant was subjected to macroscopy, microscopy, quantitative microscopy and powder microscopic studies as per standard testing protocol. Result and Discussion: The TS of rhizome showed the presence of thick periderm and parenchymatous cortex filled with tannin. The presence of stomatal clusters in the leaves revealed under quantitative microscopy was notable. The powder microscopic studies showed the prescence of libriform fibres, cells containing tannins and cluster crystals. The study will prove to be a comprehensive record of macro-microscopical features of B. albococcinea for identification of this species.