Page 178 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

Ginger. A, peeled Jamaica rhizome; B, partially peeled African ginger;
C, diagrammatic T.S. of unpeeled rhizome; D,&E, detailed T.S. ; F,L.S.
of a vascular bundle. a, starch; ck, outer cork; d, depressed scar; end,
endodermis; f, fibers; i.c ,inner cortex; ol, oleoresin cell; o.c, outer
cortex; par, parenchyma; r,, ridges; s, septum; s.-s, scraped surface; tr, vessel;
v.b, vascular bundle; v.b.f, fibrous vascular bundle; v.b.s, ring of small v
b.

Macroscopical Characters
Ginger occurs in horizontal laterally flattened sympodially branching pieces,

4-16 cm. long, 1.5-6.5 cm wide, up to 2 cm. thick, pale yellowish-buff or light
brown, externally, longitudinally striated, somewhat fibrous; branches, flattish,
obovate, short, about 2 cm. long, each ending with a depressed stem scar, fracture,
short with projecting fibers, mealy or sometimes resinous, internally, yellowish-
brown, showing a yellow endodermis separating the narrow cortex from the wide
stele, and numerous yellowish points, secretion cells, and numerous bigger grayish
points, vascular bundles, scattered on the whole surface. Ginger has an agreeable
aromatic odor and an agreeable pungent aromatic taste.

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