Microscopic Characterization and Analysis of Ayurvedic Herbal Products Using Light Microscopy

Objective: Today sophisticated modern research tools for assessment of the plant drugs are achievable but microscopic method is still one of the ingenious and procurable methods to start for substantiate the correct recognition of the source material. Powder microscopy helps to find out the impurities and also helps in quality assessment of the drug. To standardize and evaluate the readymade as well as homemade herbal powder and thus provides means for assessing the authenticity and morality of herbal drugs. Materials and Methods: Microscopic detailed examination of herbal plant parts such as G. glabra, P. emblica, P. nigrum, P. longum was established with different reagents such as acetic acid, iodine, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid followed by observation of slide under LEICA Software Capture and Display Software and photographs of each slide was captured for evaluation of the drug. Observation and Results: Microscopic assessment of the homemade and readymade herbal parts of G.glabra and P.emblica shows original cellular structures while unidentified cellular structure were observed in readymade powder of P. longum which perhaps the growth of fungal mycelium and leaf part were observed in P. longum, thus Microscopy method permits more detailed examination of a drug and it can be used to identify the organized drugs by their known histological characters. Conclusion: Powder microscopic evaluation of herbal powder is one of the simplest and authenticated methods for the proper identification of the drug. It helps in purity assessment of the readymade herbal powder. Microscopic study and physiochemical standards can be useful to substantiate and authenticate the drug.