Page 121 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Powder
It is greyish green in color with an aromatic odor and pungent taste. It is characterized
microscopically by the presence of the following:
1- Fragments of both the upper and lower epidermis with slight wavy anticlinal walls and
diacytic stomata.
2- Non- glandular and orange- red labiaceous trichomes.
3- Fragment of the vein islet show no crystals of calcium oxalate.
4- Neural epidermal cells with capitate trichomes.
5- Fragments of the lamina show the dorsiventral structure of the mesophyll with two palisade
layers.
6- Fragments of spiral, reticulate and pitted vessels.
7- Spheroidal pollen grains and fibrous layer of anther.

Constituents
Volatile oil (1- 2.6%) contains 20- 30% mainly thymol, carvacrol and p- cymol in addition
to borneol and linalool.

Uses
1- Carminative and gastrointestinal disinfectant.
2- Antispasmodic.
3- The oil is used as a counter irritant for rheumatic pain.
4- Condiment and in the flavoring of meat, fish and soup.

Chemical tests
Test for thymol
Thyme oil (3 drops) + glacial acetic acid (3 ml) + H2SO4 (6 drops) + HNO3 (1 drop)
deep bluish green color.

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