Atlas of Microscopy of Medicinal Plants, Herbs, Spices - B. Jackson, D. Snowdon (1990) WW

265 Pages·1990·28.21 MB·English

ATLAS OF MICROSCOPY

To the memory of

Dr. T. E. Wallis

Pharmacognosist par excellence ,
whose meticulous microscopy
has served as our inspiration

ATLAS OF MICROSCOPY
OF MEDICINAL PLANTS,

CULINARY HERBS AND SPICES

By

BETTY P. JACKSON

Ph.D., B.Pharm., B.Sc. (Lond), F.R.Pharm.S., F.L.S.

and

DEREK W. SNOWDON

B.Pharm. (Lond), F.R.Pharm.S.

CONTENTS

Preface
vii

Practical methods
ix

Reagents
xi

Materials indicated with an asterisk are described briefly but are not the subject of separate Plates

Page

Aconite
2

African Rauwolfia
4

Ajowan
6

Anise
8

Applemint*
178

Areca
10

Basil
12

Bay
14

Bearberry
16

Belladonna Herb
18

Belladonna Root
20

Black Mustard
22

Black Pepper
24

Buchu
26

Calamus
28

Calumba
30

Canella
32

Cannabis
34

Capsicum
38

Caraway
42

Cardamom
44

Cascara
46

Cascarilla
48

Cassia
50

Celery Fruit
52

Chamomile
54

Chervil
56

Chives
58

Cinchona
60

Cinnamon
62

Clove
64

Coca
66

Cocillana
68

Colchicum Corm
70

Colchicum Seed
72

Colocynth
74

Coriander
76

Cubebs
78

Cummin
80

Damiana
82

Dandelion Root
84

Derris
86

Page

Digitalis
88

Digitalis lanata
90

Dill Fruit
92

Duboisia
94

Egyptian Henbane
96

Fennel Fruit
98

Foenugreek
100

Frangula
102

Galls
104

Gelsemium
106

Gentian
108

Ginger
110

Grass
112

Green Hellebore
114

Hemlock Fruit
116

Henna
118

Hops
120

Hydrastis
122

Hyoscyamus
124

Hyssop
126

Indian Podophyllum
128

Indian Rauwolfia
130

Indian Squill*
220

Ipecacuanha
132

Ipomoea
134

Ispaghula
136

Jaborandi
138

Jalap
140

Linseed
142

Liquorice
144

Lobelia
146

Lonchocarpus
148

Lucerne
150

Mace*
164

Male Fern
152

Marigold
154

Marjoram
156

vi
CONTENTS

Marshmallow
158

Mate
160

Matricaria
162

Nutmeg
164

Nux Vomica
166

Oak Bark
168

Opium
170

Orris
172

Parsley Fruit
174

Parsley Leaf
176

Peppermint
178

Phytolacca
180

Pimento
182

Podophyllum
184

Pomegranate Bark
186

Pyrethrum Flowers
188

Quassia
192

Quillaia
194

Raspberry Leaf
196

Rhatany Root
198

Rhubarb
200

Rosemary
202

Sage
204

Sarsaparilla
206

Sassafras Bark
210

Senega
212

Senna Fruit
214

Senna Leaf
216

Slippery Elm
218

Spearmint*
178

Squill
220

Star Anise
222

Starches:
226

Maize, Maranta, Potato,
Rice, Tapioca, Wheat

Stramonium
228

Strophanthus
230

Tarragon
232

Thyme
234

Turmeric
236

Valerian
238

Visnaga
240

White Hellebore*
114

White Mustard
242

White Pepper*
24

Wild Cherry
244

Witch Hazel Bark
246

Witch Hazel Leaf
248

Wormseed
250

Indices
253

PREFACE

Some twenty years ago our book Powdered Vegetable Drugs was published, which provided an
Atlas for use by analysts and others in the identification and authentication of medicinal plant
materials. It is now out of print, and with the opportunity to produce a new work we have been
able to consider the possibility of extending its usefulness to include other areas of analysis where
microscopical criteria are of established or potential value. One particular field which is
inadequately covered in the currently available literature is the microscopy of culinary herbs and
spices, and as certain medicinal products such as Ginger and Clove, described in the earlier book,
also have culinary uses, a logical expansion seemed to be to include some of the more important
herbs and spices commonly used in food products. By widening the scope in this way it is hoped
that this present work will provide a more useful reference not only for forensic scientists and
others engaged in the evaluation of powdered drugs, but also for analysts in the food and allied
industries who are concerned with the authentication of raw materials.

Accordingly, we have prepared drawings and descriptions for some twenty culinary herbs and
spices for inclusion in this volume. We have also added to the coverage of powdered drugs with
monographs on Ajowan, Hemlock, Opium, Rhatany, Senna Fruit and Visnaga, which were not
in our earlier book. In addition, we have incorporated monographs on Grass and Lucerne as
these, in powdered form, may be used to standardise Prepared Digitalis.

Although chemical methods of analysis, especially chromatography, are now accepted as
standard techniques for the identification of many vegetable materials, microscopical structure is
long established as providing a most useful and reliable criterion. Microscopy is particularly
applicable to the examination of mixtures when individual components can readily be recognised
whereas no satisfactory chromatographic identification would be possible. Microscopy also has
the advantages of requiring only small quantities of the material and, once the technique has been
acquired, a conclusion as to whether or not a sample is genuine can be reached very rapidly.

As this book is intended primarily for use in the verification of materials, for ease of location
we have arranged the contents in alphabetical order according to their commonly accepted
names. We have also provided separate indices of Synonyms and Botanical Sources.

All the drawings in this book have been made solely by ourselves from previously authenti-
cated samples. For the drugs and spices, which usually occur commercially in the powdered form,
number 60 grade powders were prepared for examination, but for the culinary herbs, which are
more usually available in the whole or broken condition, fragments of a suitable size were
examined. The drawings were made at a magnification of 500, using a camera lucida, from fresh
mounts prepared as described in the section on Practical Methods. In preparing the drawings our
aim has been to illustrate the diagnostic characters for each material and we have excluded cell
contents which are common to a morphological group but are not otherwise diagnostic, for
example, aleurone grains and fixed oil globules in seeds. The descriptions, similarly, are intended
to give a detailed account of the actual characters seen in the fragments rather than the full
histology of the plant organ from which the materials are derived. We have quoted dimensions of
cells and other particles only when they are of value in distinguishing between closely similar
materials.

One of us (D.W.S.) wishes to express thanks to the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Sunderland Polytechnic, for kindly according laboratory facilities during the execution of some of
this work.

Finally, we would like to thank Belhaven Press, and especially Dr Iain Stevenson, for
undertaking to publish this work and for the care and co-operation shown throughout its
production.

Betty P. Jackson
Derek W. Snowdon
1990

vii

PRACTICAL METHODS

When using this book to authenticate a given sample it will be necessary to make microscopical
preparations of the material in order to compare the structures present with those drawn and
described in the relevant monograph. It is appreciated that users may not be familiar with all the
mountants employed and the techniques involved in making such preparations, and the following
notes are given for guidance.

Solution of Chloral Hydrate

In the microscopical examination of vegetable materials the most diagnostic features are
specific cell types and calcium oxalate crystals, and they are best observed in a Chloral Hydrate
mount. However, before the details can be discerned it is essential to 'clear' the preparation in
order to allow the chloral hydrate solution to penetrate the tissues and remove entrapped air
bubbles. The procedure is as follows.

Add two-or three drops of the solution to the material on a microscope slide and apply a cover
glass. Heat very gently by passing the slide to and fro over a very low flame (the use of a micro
burner is recommended). As soon as bubbles start to appear stop the heating and, if necessary,
run more solution under the cover glass. If the material contains considerable amounts of starch
or mucilage it will probably be necessary to repeat the heating several times, and it is important to
ensure that sufficient liquid is always present to prevent the preparation from drying out. When a
satisfactory preparation has been made, lift the cover glass and add one or two drops of Solution
of Chloral Hydrate and Glycerol to inhibit the formation of crystals of chloral hydrate during the
subsequent examination of the slide.

The clearing process removes starch granules and all water-soluble cell inclusions.

Alcohol and Water

To examine a material (usually in the powdered form) for the presence of starch granules a
mount is prepared as follows.

To the material on a slide add one or two drops of Alcohol and mix until thoroughly wetted.
Add one or two drops of water and apply a cover glass; on examination the starch granules should
readily be recognisable. If necessary, their identity can be confirmed by allowing a drop of
Solution of Iodine to run under the cover glass and observing the blue-black staining of the
granules.

N.B. If the material to be examined contains a high proportion of oil (for example, some
powdered fruits and seeds), cloudiness will occur when the water is added, which will render
subsequent examination unsatisfactory. It is, therefore, recommended that most of the oil be
removed from such materials, using a suitable solvent (ether or chloroform), before examining
for starch granules.

Phloroglucinol and Hydrochloric Acid

To establish lignification in cells and tissues the procedure is as follows.
To the material on a slide add one or two drops of Solution of Phloroglucinol , mix and allow
the solvent to evaporate almost completely. Add one or two drops of Hydrochloric Acid and
apply a cover glass. Examine immediately; a red colour indicates the presence of lignin. The
reaction is semi-quantitative, i.e. heavy lignification gives a deep red colour and slight lignifica-
tion a pale pink; the colour gradually fades.

N.B. As in the examination for starch granules, described above, when the hydrochloric acid is
added after the alcoholic solution of phloroglucinol, cloudiness will occur if large amounts of oil
are present in the sample. With such materials the test for lignin should ideally be carried out
after removal of the oil.

ix

X
PRACTICAL METHODS

Lead Acetate Solution of Ruthenium Red and Alkaline Solution of Corallin

These dye solutions are sometimes used to confirm the presence of certain types of mucilage.
The solution should be added directly to the material on a slide and a cover glass applied.
Examine, and if some particles appear to have absorbed the colour allow a drop of distilled water
to run under the cover glass and re-examine. A permanent colouration of the particles is positive.

Solution of Potassium Hydroxide

Flavonoid glycosides such as diosmin and hesperidin sometimes occur in cells in the crystalline
form and their identity can be confirmed by the use of this reagent. The solution is added to the
material on a slide and the preparation examined immediately; the crystals slowly dissolve giving
a yellow colouration.

REAGENTS

Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol 95%

For most purposes this can be replaced by Industrial Methylated Spirit (66 O.P.).

Chloral Hydrate , Solution of

Chloral Hydrate
50 g

Distilled Water
20 ml

Dissolve, using gentle heat if necessary.

Chloral Hydrate and Glycerol, Solution of

Solution of Chloral Hydrate
90 ml

Glycerol
10 ml

Mix.

Corallin, Alkaline, Solution of

Corallin
0.125 g

Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate
7.4 g

Mix the dry materials. Divide into ten portions each of 0.75 g and transfer to bottles of about 15 ml
capacity. Seal. For use, add 10 ml Distilled Water to the contents of a bottle and shake to dissolve. The
solution deteriorates on standing, but in a closed container is usable for 10 to 14 days.

Hexanol, n-Hexanol.

Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid of the British

Pharmacopoeia. (Wt/ml about 1.8; Content of HC1 35 to 39% w/v).

Iodine, Solution of

Iodine
2 g

Potassium Iodine .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
3 g

Distilled Water
to make 100 ml

Mix the two solids in a measure and add about 5 ml of the Water. Agitate until dissolved. Slowly dilute
to volume with further Water.

Store in a closed, well-filled container.

Phloroglucinol, Solution of

Phloroglucinol
1 g

Alcohol (95%)
to make 100 ml

Dissolve.

Store in a closed container.

Potassium Hydroxide, Solution of

Potassium Hydroxide
5 g

Distilled Water
to make 100 ml

Dissolve.

Store in a closed, well-filled container.

Ruthenium Red, Solution of

Ruthenium Red
8mg

Lead Acetate
1 g

Distilled Water, recently boiled and cooled
10 ml

Dissolve.

This reagent deteriorates rapidly on storage, particularly if exposed to the atmosphere. Its useful life is only
two or three days.

xi

Atlas of Microscopy
of Medicinal Plants,

Culinary Herbs and Spices