A diagnostic key to identify multiple botanical sources for the Balaa group of Ayurvedic plant drugs

Suma, Tagadur Sureshchandra; Ravikumar, Kaliamoorthy; Thamizheseran, Nagarajan; Shantha, Thirumalai Ramaseshan

doi:https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2019-OJ6U06

Abstract

A conscious effort is certainly needed to provide pure and cleaned forms of plants based drugs for preparation of safe and efficacious herbal formulations. However, such genuine efforts are a rarity. Most often, botanical drugs traded come to users in the form of crude drugs /coarse-finely powdered materials /depilated/ dis-coloured/ mixed forms, which makes the identification of the raw materials, a challenging task with ambiguity. In order to have control on Quality Assurance in herbal industry, an integrated approach of pharmacognosy discipline plays a vital role in authentications and certification of genuine plant materials. To facilitate this process, various tools such as taxonomic evaluation to microscopic studies; gene sequencing to phyto-chemical studies are employed. In this article, an attempt has been made to develop a simple diagnostic key based on analysis of trichome characters for 14 botanical entities, which are recorded to be used as Balaa in various popular Ayurvedic formulations and traditional practices.

Keywords

Botanical trade, Quality Assurance, Pharmacognosy, Microscopy, Trichome, Balaa, Diagnostic Key to identify

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Fig. 1

Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet, a-b. Glandular trichomes (multicellular, base bulged like a flask, tip of the trichome tapers to single seriate cells with simple rounded apex, cells show deposits). Sparsely seen; c, d, e. Stellate trichomes, non-glandular, predominant, 2 to 7 or more branches, elongated, straightened with acute apex, with narrow space in between, extending up to the tip. Thin walled, needle like, unequal size. Base of the hair has stalk and deposits seen; d. Stomata: Ranunculus type; f. flowering twig; g. trichomes on the stem; h. fruiting twig

Fig. 2

Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet, a. 40x stellate trichomes, seen all over predominantly. Typically stalked, non glandular, unicellular, elongated, straight with pointed tip. 2 to 8 branched (4 longer and 4 shorter arrangements). Base of the branch appears jointed with deposits. Thin walled trichomes; b. 40x TS leaf; c. 20x stellate trichomes; d. 40x stellate trichomes; e. 40x stomata, Ranunculus type; f. Whole plant with fruits; g. Flowering twig; h. Dried twig materials

Fig. 3

Grewia hirsuta Vahl., a, b, c, d. : Stellate trichomes, densely packed. Stalked, with 8 branches, non-glandular. d: Straight with the base of the branch appearing like a ‘femur bone joint / slightly forked’, thick walled at the base. Inner space is filled with color at the base and oil globule (tear drop like); e. Stomata: Ranunculus (Apocytic); f-h: Flowering branches; i : fruiting branches

Fig. 4

Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke, a. Predominantly stellate, unicellular, stout, sessile, non-glandular. Trichomes have acute apex and slightly bent. Thick walled. Number of branches vary from one to 2 to 5. Slightly globose base; b. Stomata Ranunculus; c. habitat and habit; d. flowering and fruiting twig; e. close-up of flower with epicalyx; f. dried whole plant

Fig. 5

Melochia corchorifolia L., a. Stellate, non glandular trichome with branches more than 2-5. Unequal length; b-c: Glandular trichome with uniseriate arrangement, stout, globose apex (like a club); multicelled glandular trichome, smaller than club shaped trichomes (probably scaly nature) and sessile; c. Ranunculus (Apocytic); d. Habit; e. flowering twig; f. fruiting twig

Fig. 6

Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Cav., a-b. Stellate trichomes. Predominant, non glandular stellate, 3 or more than 5 branches, even length. Trichomes are long with inner space extending up to tip; c-d. Glandular, sessile (uniseriate, stout and mildly broader at base and appears on epidermal region. These are different from other species. Tip pointed. Appears like linear pitcher. Elongated (elongated than Abutilon hirtum ). Each of the cell has crystal deposited. Sticky trichomes. Abundant; e. Ranunculus (Apocytic); f. Habit; g. Roots

Fig. 7

Sida acuta Burm.f., a-c: stellate trichomes uniformly branched. 3 to 9 branches (Whorl of three), surface has warty appearance, straight apex, thin walled, sessile; d: Ranunculus (Apocytic); e. habit along with roots; f. flowering twig; g. aerial part dried; h. dried whole plant; i. dried roots with twisted striations

Fig. 8

Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borss. Waalk., a-b: Stellate trichomes with 2 or 3 branches abundant. Up to 5 branches also seen. Trichomes unevenly branched Qd, 2 to 5 branched with triangular base. Sessile. Thick walled. Elongated, straight, pointed apex (piercing like); b: Inner space extends up to tip. Sessile. Base has deposits in triangular form; c: Stomata: Abundant, small, inter stomatal spacing more, Ranunculus (Apocytic); d. Habit; e. Twig; f. Close up of flower; g. dried roots and shoots

Fig. 9

Sida cordifolia L., a,b, c, d, e: dense trichomes of varying size and type. Much abundant than other species. All over the aerial parts. Many types of trichomes. 1. Non- glandular, stellate, more than 6 branches. 2 and 3 trichome/hairs predominant. Trichomes very stout with bent tips, at the base of the hair, inside space at the base has tear drop like appearance. Thick walls with pointed tips. b: Uni-seriate, broad based pitcher like, glandular trichome, elongated with round and flattened tip. Each of these cells bear substance /crystals; c:multicellular, stout, club shaped, stalked, glandular trichome; f: Sessile glandular trichome, flattened round. Top view shows compartmentalized cells. Occasional; g. Ranunculus (Apocytic).

Fig. 10

Sida cordifolia L., m. Habit; n. flowering twig; o. fruiting twig; p. dried aerial part; q-r. dried roots

Fig. 11

Sida cordifolia L., h. Unicellular shaggy trichomes predominant on the stem and petioles; i-j. 20x Stellate and pitcher shaped (j) glandular trichome; k. unicellular trichome and club shaped (l), multicellular, stalked, glandular trichome

Fig. 12

Sida retusa L., a, b: Unicellular, single trichome: Non Glandular, elongated, straight, thick walled, and bulged base with deposits, sparsely distributed; c, d, e: stellate trichome vary from three to nine or many, arranged in tri-merous fashion. Branches vary in length and size. Elongated to stout branches. The inner space of the trichome extends up to tip. Tip some time bent inward or outward. Thick walled. Base globose base containing deposits; f: Stomata: Ranunculus type

Fig. 13

Sida retusa L., g. Habit; h. Flowering twig; i. Leafy twig; j. Bale of S. retusa fresh at raw drug market, Kerala; k. Broad leaved form; l-m. dried whole plant; n. dried aerial part

Fig. 14

Sida spinosa L. a, b, c: Stellate, non glandular, sessile, unicellular trichomes, stout, appears minute, sparse and evenly distributed, branches 3 to 7 branches. Uneven branches. Straight with tapering needle like tip. Base not bulged. Thick walled, inner space tapers till the apex; d-e: Glandular trichome, stout, club shaped (leaf); slightly elongated in stem, uniseriate with multicellular base. Appears bulged at base; c: Stomata: Ranunculus (Apocytic); f. Habit; g-h. Leafy twig with spiny stipule

Fig. 15

Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq., a stellate 2 branched, sparse, apex crescent shaped, warty appearance; b. Habit; c. flowering branch; d. fruits

Fig. 16

Urena lobata L., a, b, d: Non glandular, shaggy stellate. Variable in length and number of branches. One to many. Elongated with pointed tip. Both thick and thin walled trichomes seen. Inside empty space extends upto 3/4 of the hair length. b, c: stalked. Appears warty surface on the hair. Trichomes with receptacle bearing deposits; e. glandular sessile trichome (crisscross, appears like premature gland); g: gland below petiole; h. Habit; i-j. flowering twig; k. fruits

Fig. 17

Waltheria indica L., a-e. One type of trichome. Stellate. Branches are elongated with acute apex. Inner space ends at 1/4th the trichome length. Base of the branches show triangular shape and slightly forked (unlike Grewia spp.) Branches appear slender (a,b). More than 8 branches seen in cluster(a). Trichomes are evenly distributed and versatile(b). Appears delicate. Thin walled(d); f. Stomata: Ranunculus type; g. Habit; h. Leafy twig; i. Flowering twig

References

1. Aiyer, N.K. and Kollamal, M. (1993). Pharmacognosy of Ayurvedic Drugs-Kerala, Pharmacognosy Unit, Ayurveda College, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala. Series 1: 5; 71-117

2. Chauhan, M.G. and Pillai, A.P.G. (2005). Microscopic profile of powdered drugs used in Indian Systems of Medicine Vol. I-II(Bark drugs). Institute of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant Sciences, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar

A diagnostic key to identify multiple botanical sources for the Balaa group of Ayurvedic plant drugs

Tagadur Sureshchandra Suma, Kaliamoorthy Ravikumar, Nagarajan Thamizheseran and Thirumalai Ramaseshan Shantha

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 26 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 213-224 | 2019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2019-OJ6U06 | Cite this article

Tagadur Sureshchandra Suma

Kaliamoorthy Ravikumar

Nagarajan Thamizheseran

Thirumalai Ramaseshan Shantha