Pharmacognostic studies of indigenous medicinal plants-I

ABSTRACT

The comparative cytomorphological studies of Conyza ambigua, Eclipta alba and Sonchus asper were carried out with fresh transverse section and with dried powder of their various parts under light microscope; while the irritant constituents were extracted successively with pet. ether [40-60], CHCI3 and MeOH. The CHCI3 and MeOH extracts of leaves, roots and flowers of all the species exhibited a prominent erythema on mice's skin. The CHCI3 and MeOH extracts of the flower of S. asper were more poten irritant than the other extracts of the same species and also the other species. The possible relationship of anatomical structures with phytochemistry and irritancy of these species have been discussed