Morpho-anatomical and physicochemical studies of Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study morpho-anatomical characters and physicochemical analysis of Fumaria indica (F. indica) (Hausskn.) Pugsley, (Fumariaceae), an important medicinal plant used extensively for treating a variety of ailments in various system of indigenous medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Evaluation of the different parts of the plant was carried out to determine the morpho-anatomical, physicochemical, phytochemical and HPTLC fingerprinting profile of F. indica and other WHO recommended methods were performed for standardization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morpho-anatomical studies showed compound and pinnatifid leaf, 4 to 6 cm in length, linear and oblong in shape and anomocytic arrangement of stomata, thin walled parenchymatous cells, scattered, sclerenchymatous, capped vascular bundles and radiating medullary rays. Physicochemical studies showed foreign matter 0.2%, loss on drying 6.8%, total ash 16.77%, alcohol and water soluble extractives 8.92% and 20.26%, respectively, sugar 17.75%, starch 22.97% and tannins 2.37%. Phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of carbohydrate, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and sterol. Thin layer chromatography was carried out with different solvents and the best solvent system was chloroform and methanol in 80:20 ratio and revealed 12 spots with different Rf value under UV light 366λ.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material for future investigations and applications.</p>

Histopathologic Findings of Horizontal Sections of Normal Scalp from Korean Females / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: To date there has not been a study of the histologic data of hair pollicles in scalp hairs of healthy Korean female adults. It is better to evaluate follicular structures in horizontal histologic sectioning than in vertical sectioning. OBJECTIVE: To obtain histologic data of hair follicles in scalp hairs in healthy Korean female adults. METHODS: 20 healthy Korean female volunteers with a normal scalp were analyzed. The age range was 22~29 years (mean 25.7+/-2.3). Transverse sections of 4 mm punch biposy specimens from the vertex were examined at various levels from the papillary dermis to the subcutis. Follicular counts of terminal/vellus hairs and anagen/ telogen hair were evaluated. RESULTS: The total number of total hairs, terminal hairs, vellus hairs, average follicular units, and follicular structures/ mm(2) were 17.5+/-2.6, 15.8+/-2.5, 1.8+/-0.7, 9.0+/-1.6, and 1.4+/-0.2 respectively. Terminal hair:vellus hair ratio was 9:1 and percentage of anagen hairs among total hairs was 95%. Hair density in Korean female was found be significantly lower than that of white females and African American females. CONCLUSION: This data can be used as a guideline for interpreting transverse sections of scalp biopsy specimens in Korean female adults.

Histopathologic Findings of Horizontal Sections of Normal Scalp from a Korean Male / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The advantage of transverse sectioning over vertical sectioning of scalp biopsies is morphometric analysis of follicular structures. OBJECTIVE: To obtain histologic data of hair follicles from normal scalp hair in a Korean male. METHOD: A total of 22 Korean male volunteers with a normal scalp were included. The age range was 26+/-4.5 (23-29 year-old). Transverse sections of 4mm punch biopsy specimens from the vertex were examined at various levels from the papillary dermis to the subcutis. Follicular counts of terminal/vellus hairs and anagen/telogen hairs were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of total hairs, terminal hairs, vellus hairs, average follicular units, and follicular structures/mm2 were 21.2+/-4.1, 18.8+/-3.7, 2.4+/-1.4, 9.0+/-1.6, and 1.6+/-0.3, respectively. Terminal hair: vellus hair ratio and anagen: telogen hair ratio were 7.8: 1 and 93.7: 6.3, respectively. Hair density in Korean males was found be significantly lower than that of white males, but similar to that of black males. CONCLUSION: This data can be used as a guideline for interpreting transverse sections of scalp biopsy specimens in Korean males.

The Histological Study of Accessory Tragus: A Comparison of Vertical Sections with Transverse Sections

BACKGROUND: Accessory tragi contain a central core of cartilage, which is the most important pathological factor, but often are misdiagnosed as soft fibroma/hair follicle nevi if sections cannot show a central core of cartilage. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were aimed at comparing transverse sections with vertical sections and demonstrating the value of transverse sections about histological diagnosis for accessory tragus. METHODS: We studied 14 cases of patients with accessory tragi. All cases were totally excised and all 16 biopsy specimens (bilateral in 2 cases) were obtained. We classified these biopsy specimens into two groups regarding the removal of cartilage.All specimens were vertical or transverse seiral sectioned and we compared these histologic findings with established histologic diagnostic criteria which Satoh et al. reported. RESULTS: On the specimens of group 1 in which there was cartilage, subcutaneous prominent connective tissue framework whirling around cartilage could be observed on all transverse sections, but was not always present on vertical sections. Prominent connective tissue framework and pilosebaceous units with circular arrangement of eccrine glands were simultaneously in the center of transverse sections regardless of the presence of cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, transverse sections showed all diagnostic histologic important features for accessory tragus: presence of central cartilage, prominent subcutaneous connective tissue framework, and various degree of pilosebaceous unit, especially with circular arrangement of eccrine glands. So transverse sectioning could be a useful method for accurate histological diagnosis of accessory tragi regardless of the removal of cartilage when doing excisional biopsy.