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Ayurveda opines that the plants which are grown in one's own vicinity should be used for food and medicinal needs. Rare knowledge on folklore plants is passed on from generations to generations traditionally. One such plant is Dioscorea oppositifolia L. (Dioscoreaceae) found frequently in Udupi locally known as Kaadu genasu. The plant is large climber with numerous cylindrical tubers which are consumed as food as it is very nutritive and used as food during famine. On account of these utilities of this less explored plant material, a detailed pharmacognostical study including macro and microscopy HPTLC, nutritional values were conducted. Results of this study can be utilized for identification and purity standards this extra pharmacopoeial drug. Sagri et al.

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Introduction: Chincha (Tamarindus indica Linn.) is a tropical tree which is extensively used in Ayurveda and folk practice across South Canara for various ailments such as indigestion, as cardiac tonic, vermifuge, burning sensation, diarrhoea and diabetes. The cork and seed of T. indica has been successfully used by the folklore practitioners of Udupi District in the treatment of various types of wounds. As systematic authentication of herbal raw drug is becoming increasingly important to produce standardized herbal products this study was planned. Methods: Macroscopic features and powder microscopy of cork and seed of T. indica are documented along with their photographs. Phytochemical test was carried out in order to figure out the constituents present in the seed and cork. HPTLC finger print profile of ethanol extract of T. indica cork and seed was also been carried out. Results: Powder microscopy showed the presence of calcium oxalate crystals, group of sclerieds, Crystal fibres in cork and fragments of cotyledone with fixed oil, Parenchymal cells in seeds. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of coumarins, flavanoids, saponins, tannin, alkaloid, steroid and carbohydrate. Conclusion: These diagnostic features can be utilized as a fingerprint for the identification and differentiation of their substitute and adulterants of the plant.

According the literatures of Ayurveda all drugs in this universe are having medicinal values. So it is the duty of a physician to know the use of such plants as food and medicine. They have also advised us to use such drug after a detailed examination The standardization includes Macroscopic study which gives the description of s crude drug includes the size, shape, nature of outer and inner surface, type of fracture and organoleptic characters like color, taste etc. and the Microscopic studies is a technique of qualitative evaluation, it is a part of pharmecognosy where drug is studied in entire or powder form and it includes study of features like stomata, trichomes, calcium oxalate crystals, starch grains, and vessels are important anatomical characteristics of the organized drug which varies to individual drugs and serves as a main identification tool of a particular drug. Sagri et al.