Page 206 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

from the base. The transversely cut surface of the corm is either horny or white
and mealy.

Microscopical Characters
Externally is a brown epidermis of sub-rectangular tabular cells about 58-
80µ long and 16-20µ high. Small scattered vascular bundles with narrow spiral
vessels traverse the parenchyma which contains very abundant starch, much of
which is gelatinized.

The starch grains are simple and rounded or more usually compound with
2-3 and sometimes 4 components, which are muller-shaped with one or two flat
facets; individual grains are 8-24-32µ in diameter; the hilum is either a point or
a 2-3 radiate split.

Constituents
Indian colchicum corm contains about 0.21 % of colchicine and and
abundance of starch.

RHIZOMA CURCUMAE

Turmeric
Turmeric consists of the prepared rhizomes of Curcuma domestica
Valeton., Family Zingiberaceae, a native of southern Asia, though no longer
known in the wild state. It is cultivated in India, China Java, and other tropical
countries. The rhizome has long been employed both as a spice and as a coloring
agent (Crocus indicus). It was known to Dioscorides, and described by him as a
root resembling Ginger, but having a yellow color and bitter taste. During the
Middle Ages it fell into disuse and is now considered inferior to Ginger and other
spices; in India it is largely employed as a dye and as a condiment.

163