Page 64 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

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

4- FRUCTUS AMMI VISNAGAE (Ammi visnaga Fruit)

Syn.: Arnrai visnaga, pick-Tooth fruit, Visnaga, Bizrul Khellah.

Ammi visnaga fruit is the dried ripe fruits of Ammi visnaga
Lam. (Fam. Umbelliferae). It contains not more than 3 % foreign organic matter
and yields not less than 0.5 % of the bitter principle khellin. It is indigenous to the
Nile Delta, the Mediterranean region, and the Near East.

Macroscopical Characters:
The drug consists of separate mericarps with a few entire cremocarps with a
part of the pedicel attached. The mericarp is small ovoid, about 2 mm long and 1
mm broad and surmounted by a pyramidal stylopod bearing at its apex a reflexed
style. The outer surface is brownish to greenish-brown in color with a violet tinge,
glabrous and marked with 5 distinct pale brownish rather broad primary ridges and
4 inconspicuous dark secondary ridges.
A transverse section of the mericarp is an almost regular pentagon showing
a pericarp with 6 vittae, 4 in the dorsal and 2 in the commissural side and 5 vascular
strands. The seed has a large oily Orthospermous endosperm and a small apical
embryo. Ammi visnaga has a slightly aromatic odor and aromatic, bitter, and
slightly pungent taste.

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