The study was conducted to highlight a detailed account of morphology of pollen chosen species of Lamiaceae through scanning electron microscopy, and the anatomical characteristics of leaf epidermis of seven species using simple light microscopy.In results, Anisomeles indica and Otostegia aucheri belong to subfamily Lamioideae because it has tricolpate pollen while the rest eight species belong to subfamily Nepetoideae (hexacolpate pollen). The exine sculpturing of pollen of studied species was found to be reticulate. In the family Lamiaceae, four kinds of stomata were found anomocytic, anisocytic, diacytic, and actinocytic, respectively. The cell wall patterns of epidermal cells were irregular or polygonal with straight or undulate walls. It was noted that the variety of the epidermal trichomes seems of taxonomically important for the identification of species of Lamiaceae. Both nonglandular and glandular trichomes were analyzed. The nonglandular trichomes were characterized with long, thin, and pointed apical unicellular cells. The nonglandular trichomes were A-shaped in Thymus linearis. In Perovskia abrotanoides, stellate glandular trichomes were observed whereas in A. indica and Mentha royleana both glandular and nonglandular trichomes were found. In A. indica, the nonglandular trichomes were sessile and peltate in M. royleana. For the first time in this study, pollen and foliar micromorphological features of selected species of this area are carried out. These taxonomic characters were found to be important in discrimination of species from each other.In future, the detailed study with comprehensive morphology coupled with other important characters is required for delimitation of taxa at various levels. K E Y W O R D Slight microscopy, microscopic anatomy, pollen microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface analysis

The morphology of pollen grains of the 06 species of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) belonging to one genus were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic (LM) approach. Lactic acid acetolysis method was used for (LM) while non‐acetolysis for (SEM). The species were examined for the both qualitative and quantitative palynological features. Qualitatively the pollen was studied for the shape, exine sculpturing, pollen shape, and pollen type. Oblate spheroidal shape of pollen was observed in Accacia modesta. Subprolate shape in Accaca nilotica. In Accacia farnesiana, prolate pollen was examined while prolate spheroidal in Acacia tortilis and spheroidal pollen grains were studied in Acacia catechu, respectively. Pollen exine sculpturing of the studied tribe possesses novel variation. Foveolate, reticulate, foveolate‐psilate, faint reticulate, fossulate, perforate, and scrabate exine sculpturing were noticed. Colpi were absent in all species. Excessive variation was observed in both qualitative and quantitative character of pollen. SPSS software was use for the quantitative measurement of the pollen grains. The current study will be helpful for the identification of the problematic species and phylogenetic studies of family Mimosaceae.

Pedicularis groenlandica is one of the most important medicinal plant of Deosai Plateau (Gilgit-Baltistan) Pakistan. The present study was aim to evaluate the micromorphological features, phytochemical screening and pharmacological potential of P. groenlandica by using multiple microscopic techniques. Six different solvents were used to prepare P. groenlandica extracts. Phytochemical and antioxidant activities were determined calorimetrically. To investigate antidiabetic, α-amylase inhibition assay was performed. Cytotoxicity was tested using brine shrimp assay.Anti-leishmanial via MTT assay. Disc-diffusion assay was used for protein kinase inhibitory, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Palyno-anatomical study showed significant variation for the authentication and correct identification of this highly therapeutic plant by using light and scanning electron microscopic techniques. All extracts were found rich in phytochemicals, significant amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents were found in methanol extract (PGM) 95.78 mg GAE/g and 66.90 mg QE/g. Highest DPPH scavenging potential with IC 50 88.65 μg/mL, total antioxidant capacity (60.33 mg AAE/g sample) and total reducing power (83.97 mg AAE/g) were found for PGM. Disc-diffusion method showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities. Noticeable growth inhibition in L. tropica was displayed by n-hexane extract (IC 50 112 μg/mL). Brine shrimp with highest LD 50 (67.65 μg/mL) in ethyl-acetate extract. Ethanol extract gives persuasive protein kinase inhibition (26 mm) against Streptomyces 85-E hyphae. Highest alphaamylase inhibition (74.10%) was found in n-hexane extract. In conclusion, our findings scientifically support the ethno-medicinal and biological potential of P. groenlandica. In future, the plant needs to be explored for further identification and isolation of bioactive compounds to develop new drugs to treat several aliments.

In recent study, 13 taxa of subfamily Panicoideae were investigated for morphological characterization of caryopsis. Light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to study macro‐ and micro‐morphological caryopsis features respectively. Caryopsis size in studied taxa was recorded as 1.5–10 mm long and 1–4 mm wide. Caryopsis color was brown, green, yellow, and whitish‐brown. Caryopsis shape studied was obovate, elliptic, linear oblate, and round shallowly obtriangular. Hilum position is grooved and depressed. Caryopsis compression type was lateral and dorsiventral. Major variations among studied taxa were observed in terms of caryopsis surface pattern and epicuticular projection types. Six types of caryopsis surface pattern were observed viz. scabrate, rugose, striate, reticulate, papillate, and scabridulous. Structures such as silica cells, bulges, spines, prickles, granules, and bicellular microhair were studied as epicuticular projections. Major variations were observed among Cenchrus pennisetiformis and Cenchrus ciliaris as both has entirely two different types of surface patterns and epicuticular projections. Anticlinal wall thickness and pattern as well as periclinal wall texture and level were investigated. The present research work emphasized on caryopsis characterization of subfamily Panicoideae and it is recommended to establish phylogeny within subfamily Panicoideae and with other subfamilies of Poaceae.

The quality assurance and authentication of crude herbal drugs play important role in the effective therapeutic effect of herbal drug and their products. There are many reported problems in quality assurance of herbal crude drugs concerning to their correct identification. The present study was designed with the aim to document the authentication and quality assurance of the herbal crude drugs (Argyrolobium roseum and Viola stocksii) thorough light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed foliar anatomical studies showed polygonal epidermal cells having anticlinal walls in Argyrolobium roseum while rounded epidermal cells were observed in Viola stocksii. The anomocytic stomata type was observed in Argrolobium roseum while actinocytic was noticed in Viola stocksii. The pollen of studied species appeared as tricolporate showing reticulate exine sculpturing in Argrolobium roseum while fine perforations were recorded in Viola stocksii. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity showed high flavonoid and phenol content in Argyrolobium roseum as compared with Viola stocksii. It was observed that Argyrolobium roseum was discriminated from the Viola stocksii based on the leaf and pollen micromorphological traits by using LM and SEM techniques. It was concluded that LM and SEM techniques were found useful for the quality assurance of botanicals and their authentication.