ABSTRACT:
The present paper reports characterization of eight herbal drugs individually and in polyherbal formulations by microscopy. The characteristic microscopical structures of the individual drugs were compared to the prepared polyherbal in -house formulations and three polyherbal marketed formulations- Madhumehari, Madhuhari, Madhushoonya. C. longa was characterized on the basis of fragments of parenchyma cells filled with gelatinized starch, covering trichomes and fragments of spirally thickened vessels. A. indica was characterized on the basis of anomocytic stomata, thick walled covering trichome. Fibrovascular bundles and rosette type calcium oxalate crystals were seen in E. officinalis. In M. charantia spiral and reticulate vessels and prism type calcium oxalate crystals were observed. In T. foenum powder layers of covered thick walled cells containing alurone grains and columnar palisade with externally thick cuticle cell flat at base were observed. Oval rounded starch grains and some special structures were seen in E. jambolana. Rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate and tanniferous duct were the characteristic microscopical structures in P. marsupium and G. sylvestre was characterized on the basis of paracytic stomata and broken pieces of trichomes.