RESUMO
Objective:To study the detailed pharmacognostic profile of galls of Quercus infectoria Olivier (Q. infectoria olivier) (Fagaceae), an important medicinal plant used in the Indian system of medicine. Methods: Samples of galls of Q. infectoria were studied by macroscopical, microscopical, physiochemical, phytochemical, fluorescence analysis and othjer methods for standardization as recommended by WHO. Results:Macroscopically, the crude drug is globose with horny appearances on external surface (1.4-2.3 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in diameter), with greyish-brown to brownish-black in colour externally and dark brown buff colored. Surface is smooth with numerous horny protuberances giving rough touch, and with unpleasant odour. Microscopically, a wide zone of radially elongated parenchyma cells between upper and lower epidermis were found. The vascular strands were present at all places and radially elongated sclerides touched the lower epidermis. In physico-chemical studies, the moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble, water soluble, petroleum ether, chloroform extractive value and tannin content were found to be 2.790, 5.020, 0.110, 38.780, 41.210, 0.402, 1.590 and 49.200 percentage respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. Conclusions:The results of the present study serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this medicinally important plant drug material for future investigations and applications.
RESUMO
Retinoic acid (RA) is widely used to treat the dermatologic disorders, such as acne and psoriasis, but its usage is limited because of teratogenic effects. Moreover, it is known that RA induces cleft palate by influencing epithelial differentiation and mesenchymal cells in palatine processes. We studied the ultrastructures of the epithelial and mesenchymal cells in rat palatine shelves treated with RA, in comparison with those of the normal developing rat. In this experiment, pregnant Sprague -Dawley rats were treated with 100 mg/kg of all -trans retinoic acid at day 10 of gestation. Pregnant rats were killed at 14 th and 16 th day of gestation. Fetuses were removed and palatine processes were dissected. The specimen were observed with a transmissiom electron microscope. The results were as follows. 1. Palatine epithelium of control rats was made up of two cell layers at day 14 of gestation, and that of RA treated rats consisted of multicellular layers. At the 16th day of gestation, many apoptotic bodies were observed in triangular area of the palatine epithelium of the control rat. In contrast, apoptotic cells were hardly observed in RA treated rats. 2. Mesenchymal cells of control rats contained cytoplasmic process, oval -shaped nucleus, well -developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, and mitochondria. RA treated mesenchymal cells showed atrophied cisternae of Golgi complex, rough endoplasmic reticulum with sacculated, fragmented and ribosome detached cisternae, mitochondria with dissolved mitochondrial cristae, and multivesicular body. After RA exposure during palatogenesis, the frequency of apoptotic bodies was low in palatine epithelium, and mesenchymal cells were severely damaged. In conclusion, it is suggested the RA may induce direct cytotoxic effects on mesenchymal cells and influence normal apoptosis process in developing epithelium.