Pharmacognostical Evaluation of Selected Seeds from Fabaceae Family

Background: Indigenous medicines regularly suffer with quality controversies because of similar species or varieties, substituent, adulterants wrong identification and lack of availability of original herb. Objectives: In the search for authenticity of traditional medicine, seeds of four Fabaceae species, Abrus precatorius L., Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and Senna tora L. were investigated in order to obtain characteristic patterns and medicinal potentiality by the way of pharmacognostical analysis. Each drug posse’s excellent potential in Ayurvedic medicinal system. Materials and Methods: The essential parameters studied up for the pharmacognosy of given seeds were macroscopical study, histochemical evaluation, including transverse section, powder microscopy and physicochemical parameters. Results: The organoleptic and macroscopic profiles of seeds revealed the common characters like smooth surface and bitter taste. From the microscopical evaluation, oil globule, starch grains and prismatic type of calcium oxalate crystals were also found in the seed of P. pinnata. In A. precatorius, starch grains and yellowish cell content are present, but these are completely absent in other Fabaceae members, only mucilage content and oil globules present in Trigonella foenum-graecum and anthraquinone pigment cells and rosette type calcium oxalate crystals present in Senna tora. Conclusion: The current study report on pharmacognostical analysis will provides important diagnostic tool for future identification, authentication and evidence in correct identification.