COMPARATIVE PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF SEEDS OF MUCUNA COCHINCHINENSIS (LOUR.) A. CHEV. (BLACK AND WHITE VARIETIES) WITH M. PRURIENS (L.) DC.

Abstract

M. Pruriens (L.) DC., Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. black and white are reported to contain chemical compound L-dopa, which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Aqueous extract of seeds of these species showed aphrodisiac properties. Many Ayurvedic practitioners are using the seed powder to treat disease like gonorrhoea, sterility and general debility. Seeds of these species were collected, shade dried and kept in airtight container and preserved in FAA for microscopic evaluation. Shade dried seeds were made in to powder and sieved through #60. Characters such as color, size, shape, weight as well as microscopic characters observed through transverse section and powder microscopy have also been described in detailed. Result revealed that microscopic characters such as, thickening of lumen of palisade cells of testa, number of layers of spongy parenchyma of testa region and number of mesophyll layers of cotyledon were the main distinguishing characters of selected Mucuna species.

Headnote

ABSTRACT

M. Pruriens (L.) DC., Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. black and white are reported to contain chemical compound L-dopa, which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Aqueous extract of seeds of these species showed aphrodisiac properties. Many Ayurvedic practitioners are using the seed powder to treat disease like gonorrhoea, sterility and general debility. Seeds of these species were collected, shade dried and kept in airtight container and preserved in FAA for microscopic evaluation. Shade dried seeds were made in to powder and sieved through #60. Characters such as color, size, shape, weight as well as microscopic characters observed through transverse section and powder microscopy have also been described in detailed. Result revealed that microscopic characters such as, thickening of lumen of palisade cells of testa, number of layers of spongy parenchyma of testa region and number of mesophyll layers of cotyledon were the main distinguishing characters of selected Mucuna species.

KEY WORDS: Mucuna species, pharmacognosy, macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, Ayurveda

INTRODUCTION:

Indian system of Medicine, particularly Ayurveda, prescribes 80% of their medicines, which are plant origin (Anonymous, 2003). The demand of Ayurvedic or herbal medicine is increasing day by day in the developed countries due to its safety and efficacy. Now a days, there are, plenty of formulations and preparations available in the markets in the name of vitalisers and aphrodisiac products. Increasing demand for aphrodisiac products in the global market, lead the industry to prepare neutraceuticals which does not require approval of the drug controllers (Ramawat and Goyal, 2008).

There are 105 species of Mucuna available in the tropical parts of the Earth and about 15 species found in India (Anonymous, 1962). Plants of this genus belong to family fabaceae and are annual or perrenial twinner herb or shrub (Mebberly, 2008). Among these species, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. has been reported as an aphrodisiac drug and known as Kapikacchu in Ayurveda (Sharma et al., 2000). Mucuna pruriens is an ingredient of Ayurvedic formulations Shakuladi sidhmala, Pana, Bhakshana which is used in the treatment of rheumatism (Parmar et al., 2016). Pharmacognostic studies on seed and root of Mucuna pruriens have been reported by Yelne and Sharma, (1992); Chauhan and Pillai (2011). According to Garg (1992), other species namely, Mucuna utilis Wall ex Wight are being sold in the name of Kapikacchu.

A literature survey revealed that, there are other species of Mucuna viz., Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. white seeded from Northen parts and Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. black seeded varieties from Southern parts of India are also used by Ayurvedic physicians and sold in the market in the name of Kapikacchu. Murthy et al. (2015), reported that the M. cochinchinensis black seed variety contains maximum L-dopa as compared to the other species of Mucuna.

Keeping in view, the variation in seed, leaf, pod and plant morphology; a comparative account of seed pharmacognosy has been performed. This communication deals with the macroscopic, microscopic and powder microscopic evaluation of M. pruriens, M. cochinchinensis black and white seed varieties.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Plant material:

Seed material of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC, Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. (White seed) procured from Pune market and Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. (Black seed) from Kerala market were authenticated from Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India, with voucher number S-162, S-161 and S-159, respectively. Above seeds were sown at Institute's garden and thereafter saplings were further cultivated. The fresh materials have been used from these cultivated sources for further pharmacognostical studies.

Herbarium preparation:

Herbarium specimens were prepared and preserved in the Herbarium section of the Institute with voucher specimen number Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. (White seed)- 4476, Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. (black seed) - 4487 and Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.- 4475.

Preparation of wet sample:

Fresh seeds were collected from the plants cultivated in institute garden. Seeds were thoroughly washed and kept separately in a glass bottle containing a mixture of Formalin: Glacial Acetic Acid: 70% Ethyl alcohol [10:5:85] (Johansen, 1940).

Powder preparation:

Shade dried seeds of Mucuna species were made into powder with the help of grinding mill. Powder was sieved through #60 mesh and kept in a air tight container for further analysis.

Morphological characters of seed:

Morphological or organoleptic characters like shape, size, taste, odour, colour of the three pods, seeds and powder were recorded as seen from naked eyes (Kokate et al., 2008).

Microscopic characters of seeds:

Free hand sections (T.S.) of each material were taken and stained with Phloroglucinol plus Hydrochloric acid and Iodine. Micro photographs were snapped with the help of Den°Capture 2.0 version 1.4.2.D the versatile digital microscope. The histological studies were carried out as per the methods described by Johansen, 1940.

Powder microscopy of seed:

Pinch of powder taken in watch glass and stained with Phloroglucinol plus Hydrochloric acid and Iodine. Micro-slides were prepared and observed under trinocular, Biolux make. Micro photographs were snapped with Deno Capture 2.0 version 1.4.2.D the versetile digital microscope.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Morphological characters of seed:

Seeds of Mucuna were ovate to oblong with hard, glossy surface; hilum conspicuous more or less elongated with distinct slit, cushioned with white spongy tissue and bordered with aril, located at one end of the longer edge of the seed near micropylar end. Details of comparative account of these species have been depicted in the Table-1, 2 and Figure-1

Microscopy:

Detailed T. S. of seed passing through testa:

Transversed section (TS) of Mucuna species was oval in shape. TS showed outer most single, malpighian layer of testa, composed of thick walled cylindrical palisade cells covered with thin cuticle. A line of linea lucida could easily be seen across these cells; followed by a layer of spool shaped cells having apical and basal ends; both ends connected with long, vertically running narrow strip. Underneath this lies the spongy parenchyma layer. Major differences among the microscopic characters of testa of seeds have been exhibited in Table-3 and Figure-2.

Detailed T. S. of seed passing through cotyledon:

Transverse section exhibed outer and inner epidermis, made up of squarish to rectangular cells, embeded with aleurone grains. Cells of inner epidermis observed to be bigger in size as compared to the cells of outer epidermis. In between, outer and inner epidermis, cells of mesophyll present, containig starch grains and aleurone grains and traversed with developed and undeveloped vascular bundles. Detailed comparative account among these species is given in Table -3 and Figure- 3.

Detailed T. S. of seed passing through hilum region:

Section showed two layered palisade cells containing brown content. Below this, irregular parenchyama layers, traversed with developed and undeveloped vascular bundles and few layers collapsed at the lower end. Tracheidal bar found embedded in it at narrow groove run from the centre of two rows of palisade cells. Arillus was lying adjacent to the palisade cells. Details are shown in Figure -4.

Powder microscopy of seeds-

Powder showed palisade cells in surface view seen from above and below, 2 layers of palisade cells from the hilum region, spool shaped cells in surface view, spiral vessels, isolated cells of arillus, isolated starch grains from cotyledons, fragment of tracheidal bar, isolated starch grains from radical (Figure 5 and 6).

DISCUSSION

Yelne and Sharma (1992) and Chauhan and Pillai (2011) reported presence of palisade layer columnar or spool shaped cells, tracheids and reticulate, spiral vessels in the seed powder of M. pruriens (L.) DC. Our findings were also at par with them; except that Yelne and Sharma (1992) had not reported the presence of double layered palisade cells, palisade cells in surface view seen from above and below; columnar cells in surface view. Whereas isolated cells of arillus and isolated starch grains from radical region of seed were not reported by both the authors, but newly found and being reported in the present communication.

We found major differences in morphological characters of seed of M. cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. Black, M. cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. White and M. pruriens (L.) DC., in respect of size, shape, color and weight as well as in microscopic characters such as, thickening of lumen of palisade cells of testa, number of layers of spongy parenchyma of testa region and number of mesophyll layers of cotyledon.

CONCLUSION

The resultant data obtained through experimental exercise such as, pharmacongnostic evaluation of M. cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. Black, M. cochinchinensis (Lour.) A. Chev. var. White and M. pruriens (L.) DC. will be useful for the identification and authentication of correct Mucuna species. The differences in morphological and microscopical characters among these species would also be helpful to detect the possible adulteration in the genuine drugs of Kapikacchu (Mucuna species).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authers are thankful to the Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, for encouragement and facilities provided to complete the work.

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Cite this article:

Murthy SN, Nirawane RB, Gurav AM, Mhase AG, Sangvikar S, Rao GB, Kulkarni YR (2016), COMPARATIVE PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF SEEDS OF MUCUNA COCHINCHINENSIS (LOUR.) A. CHEV. (BLACK AND WHITE VARIETIES) WITH M. PRURIENS (L.) DC. Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med., Volume 5(3): 79-91

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