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J. Res. Educ. Indian Med., Jan.-March, 2009 PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON THE FRUITS OF MOMORDICA CYMBALARIA FENZL EX NAND. T.R.SHANTHA,1 G.VENKATESHWARLU,2 M.J.INDIRA AMMAL3 AND K.GOPAKUMAR4 Regional Research Institute (Ayu.), C.C.R.A.S., Departmet of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & F.W. Government of India, Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560011 Karnataka (India) Abstract : The present communication deals with the pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical studies on the fruits of Momordica cymbalaria with Ayurvedic name Kuduhunchi which has been described in Rajnighantu (Narahari).This plant of considerable economic importance has been recommended mainly for its antidiabetic properties. Its green fruits are used as a vegetable. No study reports are available on the microscopical and phytochemical studies of the fruits. Hence, the present attempt has been undertaken to investigate the microscopical and preliminary phytochemical studies. The study revealed the presence of abundant protein bodies, oil globules, simple starch grains, glandular and non-glandular trichomes, highly lignified stone cells and bicollateral vascular bundles. Keywords: Momordica cymbalaria, Medicinal plants, Pharmacognosy. Introduction faculty), ruchikara (inducer of taste), rakta Momordica cymbalaria is a perennial and anila doshakara (causetive factor for monoecious trailing plant with large turnip blood and nervous disorders). Drug has got shaped tuberous rootstock. Stem slender, 5 many synonyms like Pratipatraphala, Bahuphala, angled, leaves 5-7 angled flowers white or Shreephalika, Kandalata, Karavi, Shubravee, yellow male flowers in short racemes, female Kshudrakaralika and Kshudrakaravalli flowers solitary, long peduncle, fruit pyriform (V.S.Togunasi et al., 1977). or fusiform, 8- ribbed. Plant is not cultivated but occurs mostly in bushes along the bank of Literature review revealed that watercourses and in ledges, which commonly Momordica cymbalaria is a known Ayurvedic found in Deccan and Carnatic southwards to drug, which introduced by Narahari in his Thirunalveli in Tamilnadu. Locally the fruits of Rajnighantu and this drug has not found a place Momordica cymbalaria is known as Karsikayi in any other nighantus (V.S.Togunasi et al., in Kannada, Athalakkai in Tamil ( Kirtikar 1977). It has been sub classified under and Basu et al., 1993) Kattupaval in Phalasaaka varga and Moolakadi varga with Malayalam and in Marathi it is known as various local names and has ascribed the Kadavanchi, Kuduhunchi. (Anonymous, 1962; synonyms as mentioned which depict different V.S.Togunasi et al., 1977). characteristics of utmost important for facilitating its identification. The studies have The fruits are katu (pungent), tikta been carried out on Athalakkai or Kuduhunchi (bitter) in rasa, deepanada (enriching digestive with respect to chemical composition and 1. Research Assistant (Botany) 2. Research Officer (Ay.) 3. Research Asstistant (Chemistry) 4. Assistant Director 2 Shantha et al. utilization of the wild edible vegetable are under way to elucidate the mechanism of Momordica tuberosa, and it has been identified antidiabetic activity of M. cymbalaria. and major nutrients were assessed. It has been observed that Athalakkai contains higher Methodology amounts of calcium, potassium, sodium and Fresh fruits of Momordica cymbalaria vitamin C than the bitter gourd. were collected from the surroundings of Ananthapur (A.P), in the month of August. For It was also observed that it had high microscopical studies free hand sections of fresh crude fiber (6.42g/100g) content. The nutrient fruits were cut cleared with chloral hydrate contents of Athalakkai are more when solution and water stained with safranin compared to bitter gourd. The calcium content according to the prescribed methods. of Athalakkai is 3 times higher than bitter gourd. (Johansen D.A, 1940; Wallis.T.E., 1967). Iron content is same as that of bitter gourd A drop of HCl and Phloroglucinol was used to (S.Parvathi et al., 2002) The content of detect the lignified cells in the cut sections and potassium in Athalakki is also two times higher in the powder drug (Wallis.T.E., 1967). than in bitter gourd and β-carotene content in Photomicrographs were taken by Nikon digital Athalakki is negligible. G. Azeemuddin et al., camera. Powder of the dried fruit was used for (1966) has carried out the work on seed fat of chemical analysis. Physico-chemical studies and the plant contains a conjugated triene acid as preliminary phytochemical screening of the drug that of the α oleostearic acid which is a was carried out Anonymous (1998). The characteristic of seed fats of Momordica genus. fluorescence behavior of the powdered drug in (G. Azeemuddin, et al.,1966). B.Kamaeswara different solutions towards the ordinary and Rao et al. (1999) have carried out the studies ultraviolet light was carried out (Chase and of the fruit powder on blood glucose and other Pratt R., 1949). Thin Layer Chromatography biochemical parameters in alloxan induced studies of the Petroleum ether at 60°-80°C, diabetic rats and they have concluded that fruit chloroform and ethanol, aqueous extracts were have beneficial effects on the the blood glucose carried out in various solvents at 30°C using level as well as improving hyperlipidaemia due precoated silica gel GF 254 plate as adsorbent. to diabetes. B.Kameswara Rao et al. (2001) (Igon Stahl, 1969). have carried out antihyperglycemic activity of M. cymbalaria fruits in alloxan diabetic rats Results and Discussion and concluded that there is a fall in the blood Macroscopically fruits are 2 to 2.5cm glucose of diabetic rats and no effect in normal long, pyriform or broadly fusiform narrowed in rats. to the curved peduncle, fruits dark green,8 ribbed, sparsely hairy. Seeds 4-6mm long broadly B.Kameswara Rao et al. (2001) have ovoid slightly compressed, strophiolate, not carried out the studies on evaluation of margined testa polished and shining, dark brown antidiabetic effect of M.cymbalaria fruits in coloured, tender fruits are dark green in colour alloxan diabetic rats and stated that aqueous and matured fruits are light yellow coloured, fraction of M. cymbalaria fruits has beneficial taste is bitter, smell agreeable, not characteristic effects on blood glucose levels as well as (PLATE I, II, III, IV). improving hyperlipidemia due to diabetes through Microscopically upper most region of the an increase in insulin secretion and further fruit show furrows and ridges with Hexagonal pharmacological and biochemical investigations to Octagonal structure in out line Phytochemical Studies on Momordica cymbalaria 3 Momordica cymbalaria (Fruit) Microscopical Characters: PLATE 1 PLATE 11 FIG 1 FIG 2 T.S of the fruit 10x X10 x. Epicarp and mesocarp region with vascular bundles Fruits Fruits and Seeds . 10x X10x PLATE III PLATE IV FIG 3 FIG 4 T.S. of the fruit showing furrows and ridges. Glandular trichome. Seeds Single fruit 10x X10x Macroscopical Characters 10x X10X FIG 5 FIG 6 (Figs.1 and 4) Outer most layers, epicarp made up of epidermis which is single layered, covered by thick striated cuticle. Some of the epidermal cells show both glandular and non-glandular type of trichomes (Fig.3). The non-glandular SCL trichomes are unicellular to multi cellular and glandular trichome is single headed. Epidermis is followed by mesocarp, made up of 2 to 5 T.S. of the fruit upper region10x X10x Portion enlarged.showing sclerenchyma band layers of paranchymatous cells, where some of Showing continuous band of sclerenchyma. 10x 40x the cells show simple rounded starch grains. The seed of cucurbitaceae develops from Mesocarp is followed by continuous band or 3 a bitegmic crassinucellate ovule but the inner to 5 layers of sclerenchymatous tissue and this integument disintegrates early in seed is followed by a zone of rounded to tangentially differentiation. The seed coat is thus derived elongated thin walled paranchymatous cells from the outer integument, the inner integument (Figs. 5 and 6). In this region, bicollateral is narrow, and the outer is wide. After vascular bundles are present under each furrows fertilization the outer integument further and ridges. Apart from the main vascular increases in thickness by periclinal divisions and bundles, few small vascular bundles are seen differentiates in to several distinct layers scattered above or side by the main vascular (Fig.13). The epidermis of the seed coat that bundle and centre portion is occupied by thin is outer testa consists of collapsed epidermis walled compactly arranged parenchymatous and hypodermis, consisting of several layers of cells (Figs. 2,4,7,8.9.10,11). compactly arranged lignified stone cells of T.S. of the fruit through middle region different size and shape which are irregular shows the same structures as that of the upper with highly thickened walls (Figs. 14 to 17). region of the fruit except in the internal Beneath the hypodermis, thin walled 1 to 6 structures of the seed. layers of parenchymatous cells are present with 4 Shantha et al. FIG 7 FIG 8 FIG19 FIG 20 MESO VBS COTY COTY Vascular bundle enlarged. Epicarp and mesocarp enlarged.. 10x X 40x 10x X 40x T.S of the seed region 10x X 10 x Cotyledon portion enlarged.10x X 40x FIG 9 FIG 10 FIG 21 scattered vascular tissues representing OG only xylem elements of helical thickenings. Beneath this layer, inner epidermis of the T.S of the fruit along with seed portion. (Middle Vascular region enlarged.10x X 40x. Cotyledon portion showing region)10x X10x. oilglobules.10x X 40 X FIG 11 FIG 12 EPI CU outer integument with nucellar and endosperm PAR cells occurs and this is followed by cotyledon MESO region with many layers of thin walled compactly SG arranged parenchymatous cells abundantly loaded with oil globules and protein bodies (starch grains).All most all cells are heavily .Enlarged portion of epicarp and mesocarp.10x X40 x Mesocarp portion showing starch grains. 10xX40x loaded with oil globules and protein bodies FIG 13 FIG 14 (Figs. 18 to 21). Macerate: - Macerate of the fruit along with the seed shows following structures (Figs.