ANATOMICAL STANDARDIZATION OF CAPPARIS ZEYLANICA L.

Abstract

The genus Capparis L. is shrubs or rarely tree, erect, scandent or sprawling; shoots generally armed with stipular spines and belonging to the family Capparadaceae. The Capparis zeylanica L. is anodyne, sedative, stomachic, anti-hydrotic, boils, cholagogue, colic, rheumatism, sore and used against swelling, pleurisy, cholera, hemiplegia, neuralgia and rheumatism. The taxa were polymorphic so present paper deals with standardization of C. zeylanica L. Anatomy and maceration techniques used to delimit the taxa. The anatomical data shown arrangements of tissues in particular pattern i.e. stomata anomocytic or ranunculaceous, eglandular tomentose, dorsiventral mesophyll, perivascular fibers, thickened cuticle and presence of crystals in epidermis of leaf as well as near to vascular cylinder of petiole, are the peculiar characters of C. zeylanica L. Maceration of stem gives exact dimensions of vascular elements so the qualitative and quantitative data is useful for identifying adulteration in herbal products.