A Contribution on the Microcharacters of Barleria prionitis L. Useful in Pharmcognosy

Abstract

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.