Pharmacognostic studies of acacia modesta wall. used as miswak

ABSTRACT

Wood anatomy, macro and microscopic study and some chemical tests of one of the local plant Acacia modesta Wall. Collected from Rawapindi were carried out. The bark shows cork cells, cork cambium and a band of fiber cells. Stone cells and cortical parenchymal were also present. Wood consists of cambium of meristematic cells, vessels, parenchyma, fibers and rays. The microscopic study of the miswak reveals the same tissues but many tissues are in fragmented form. Powdered drug is insoluble in hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, benzene and water which is partly soluble in sulphuric acid but it did not retain its actual colour i.e. black and brown and shows various colours when observed under UV [254] nm, on filter paper and in mixtures themselves. The wood is strong and hard but tree yields pale yellowish gum and is employed in medicine. The tender twigs are still used in South Asia for cleaning teeth. As the tree is also used for afforestation, it must be protected so that this miswak should be exploited for commercial purposes: