Page 66 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

Powder
Powdered Ammi visnaga is brown in color and possesses a faint aromatic
odor and an aromatic bitter slightly pungent taste. It is characterized
microscopically by the following fragments:
1. Fragments of pericarp with a few brownish pieces of vittae, reticulate

cells, vessels, and fibers.
2. Fragments showing the porous cells of the innermost layer of mesocarp
crossed by and intimately united with endocarpal cells showing parquetry
arrangement.
3. Fragments showing brownish cells of seedcoat separately or adhering to
the endocarp cells.
4. Numerous fragments of the endosperm formed of polygonal thick-walled
cellulosic cells containing oil droplets and aleurone grains with micro-rosette
crystals of calcium oxalate.
5. Fragments of epicarp formed of polygonal cells with striated cuticle and
occasional crystals of calcium oxalate.
6. No hairs and starch granules are present.

Constituents
1. Bitter principles Khellin (0.5-1%) visnagin (0.1 %) Khellol glucoside
(0.3%).
2. Coumarin derivatives: Samidin dihydrosamidin and visnadin.
3. Flavone glycosides (mono and disaccharides of quercetin and kaempferol.
4. Fixed oils and proteins.

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