PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF SEED OF METHIKA (TRIGONELLAFOENUMGRAECUM LINN.)

Abstract

The drug Methika(TrigonellafoenumgraecumLinn.) is used as a tastemaker in Indian cuisines. According to Ayurveda literature it is used for the treatment of many diseases. Even though various parts of drug owe numerous pharmacological actions, its classical officinal part is seed. A lot of studies have been published about the pharmacognosy of the drug, but the study related to pharmacognosy of seed of Trigonellafoenum-graecumLinn.is not available. The pharmacognostical evaluation was carried out in two phasesi.e, macroscopical and microscopical evaluation of seed and seed powder. The observations from the macroscopical and microscopical evaluation of seed of Methika were compared with that of the available descriptions from authentic books. Powder microscopical characters identified include endosperm cells, oil globules, aleurone grains, epidermal cells, cuticle, palisade cells of epidermisetc. this study resulted in providing an updated pharmacognostical standards for seeds of TrigonellafoenumgraecumLinn.

Keywords- Methika; Trigonellafoenumgraecum Linn.;  Macroscopical evaluation; Microscopical evaluation.