Page 53 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

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

Microscopical Characters
1. Pericarp:
The epicarp consists of thick-walled rectangular polygonal cells with smooth
cuticle showing few anomocytic stomata and no hairs.
The mesocarp is formed of rather thick-walled parenchyma traversed
longitudinally by 6 large vittae appearing elliptical in transverse section and having
brown epithelial cells and in the ridges, by vascular bundles each having 2 lateral
phloem strands and an inner xylem accompanied by upper and lower groups of
characteristic lignified reticulate parenchyma. These thickened cells have large
oval or rounded pits.
The endocarp is composed of a single layer of narrow elongated cells,
arranged in groups. of 5 or more cells, with their axes parallel but set obliquely to
the long axes of adjoining groups forming parquetry arrangement.

2. Seed
The seedcoat is thin formed of brownish tangentially elongated cells within
it a collapsed hyaline layer. Endosperm is formed of thick-walled polygonal
cellulosic parenchyma containing fixed oil. several aleurone grains enclosing a
globoid, and one or more micro-rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

3. Carpophore
Often not split showing very thick-walled sclerenchyma in two strands.

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