Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON SEEDS OF ARTOCARPUS HIRSUTUS

Suma V. K.*, Revikumar K. G. and Shan Shasidharan

Abstract

The genus Artocarpus belongs to the family Moracea which comprises of about 60 genera and over 1000 species. Artocarpus species are known for its edible fruit with high nutritive values. Artocarpus hirsutus Lam. is one among the five available varities of jackfruits. The aim of the present study is to evaluate preliminary pharmacognostic investigation of seeds of Artocarpus hirsutus. Studies were carried for analyzing the organoleptic parameters followed by evaluation based on morphological, microscopical and powder characteristics. In pharmacognostical studies the macroscopy, microscopy, and phytochemical studies were carried out. The morphological characters of Artocarpus hirsutus were observed. The seeds are pearl white, smooth and shining and elliptical in shape. The hilum is prominent, the raphae are dark brown. TS passing through the centre of the seed is circular, shows thin layer of Arillus encircling the narrow brown coloured testa and centrally located unequal sized horizontally placed cotyledon. The crystals are prisamate type. Starch grains are abundant in the powder The starch grains have centric hilum.

Keywords: Artocarpus hirsutus fruits, morphology of A.hirsutus seeds, microscopy of A.hirsutus seeds.