PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF APAMARGA (Achyranthes aspera Linn.)

Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera Linn.) is a well known herb useful in different diseases. In detail pharmacognostical profile of this plant is not found. Considering this, it has been attempted to evaluate detailed pharmacognostical profile of Achyranthes aspera Linn. Whole plant was collected in the month of November 2012; shade dried; pulverized; sieved through 80 mesh and preserved in an airtight glass container. Pharmacognostical evaluation shows xylem composed of tracheids, fibers and parenchyma in transverse section of root, parenchymatous cells contain rosettees of calcium oxalate crystals in transverse section of stem, simple worty trichome and annular vessels in powder of leaf, transverse section of seed contains parenchyma cells greatly consisting oil globules, aleuron grains, some of the cells filled with yellow brown content and also prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate. The current work appears to be the first of its kind and can be considered as reference standard for future studies.