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Barleria prionitis (Acanthaceae) is an important medicinal plant distributed throughout the various regions of India and useful in urinary and paralytic affection, stomach disorders, catarrh, cough and anasaraca and lacerated sole. In the present investigation an attempt was made to study the anatomy of root, stem, lamina, midrib, petiole, stomata and trichomes as well as histochemical localization of various substances viz., calcium oxalate, lignin, suberin, lipids in the organs of Barleria prionitis. The present study revealed that the plant distinguishing microcharacters viz., bicollateral vascular bundles, internal phloem, unibiseriate xylem rays, inverted omega shape vascular bundle, diacytic stomata and eglandular as well as glandular trichomes which are useful in solving taxonomic problems and pharmacognosy. They have significance in identification of crude drugs from this taxon.

An attempt was made to study the effect of nickel on the growth of Abrus precatorius, a medicinal plant growing in South Gujarat used in Ayurved. The seeds of Abrus precatorius were germinated in petri dishes by 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 ppm nickel sulphate solution for experimental work. The germination percentage, seedling growth, dry matter yield and changes in biochemical contents of total sugar, protein and pigments were investigated ten days after showing. The study indicates that the lower level of nickel has no adverse effect on germination, seedling growth and biochemical content whereas the higher concentration decreased the same accept the protein. Nickel increased the protein content at lower concentration and has been reducing effect at higher level.

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