TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION AND ANATOMICAL

CHARACTERIZATION OF FICUS BENGALENSIS: A WELL-KNOWN

MEDICINAL PLANT

Punitkanwal Kaur*, Namneet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Amit Kapoor

G.H.G Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Gurusar Sudhar, Ludhiana, India.

ABSTRACT

Ficus bengalensis (Moracea) is widely distributed throughout the

India. Synonyms of fiucs bengalensis in india is banyan tree.

According to Ayurveda it is astringent to bowels. It is used in

treatment of various diseases such as ulcers, vomiting, vaginal

complains, fever, inflammations and leprosy. According to Unani

system of medicines F. bengalensis latex has thousands therapeutic

actions and used as aphrodisiac, tonic, maturant, useful in piles,

gonorrhea, neuralgia, rheumatism, lumbago and skin diseases. The

leaves contains crude protein, crude fibres, CaO, phosphorous, rutin,

friedelin, taraxosterol, lupeol, β-amyrin along with psoralen, bergapten and β-sisterol,

quercetin-3-galactoside. It also contains leucodelphinidin derivative, bengalenoside,

aglucoside, leucopelargonin and leucocynidin derivatives. The latex contains resin, albumin,

cerin, sugar, and malic acid. Dried leaves of plant were subjected to organoleptic evaluation

by observing it with naked eye. Thin transverse section of leaf is taken and observed under

microscope. Dried powdered material was obtained by grinding leaves for powder

microscopy. The pharmacognostic studies revealed the morphological characters of leaves

like shape - elliptic or ovate, size - 10 to 30 cm. Thin transverse section of leaf midrib reveals

the presence of upper and lower epidermal layers which were composed of rectangular cells.

Powder microscopy showed the presence of cuboidal shape calcium oxalate crystals and

fibers.

KEYWORDS: Ficus bengalensis, Anatomy, Organoleptic evaluation, Microscopy, Fibres,

Crystals and epidermis.

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Article Received on

11 June 2015,

Revised on 02 July 2015,

Accepted on 23 July 2015

*Correspondence for

Author

Punitkanwal Kaur

G.H.G Khalsa College of

Pharmacy, Gurusar Sudhar,

Ludhiana, India.


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FICUS

Ficus is the largest genus from Moracea family. Phloem fibers are good substitute of

hemp.[1,2,3]

Approximate 1000 species are found in the world while several species are present

in tropic and subtropics regions especially in Asia region e.g. China has 99 species of Ficus

out of which 19 are endemic.[1,4]

Species of Ficus are easily recognizable because of their

appearance. Ficus plant has figs which are grown in ornamental tropical or subtropical

regions, also grown by some people in their house. Ficus carica tree has most of figs. Fig

wasps, Hymenoptera of the family Agaonidae are very specialized symbiotic pollinators of

Ficus with life cycles closely tied to the flowering and fruiting cycles of the figs.[5]

The wasp

larvae feed on short-styled female flowers or, in the male figs of the dioeciously species on

specialized gall (sterile female) flowers.[6]

TAXONOMY: - [7]

DOMAIN : Eukaryota

KINGDOM : Plantae

SUBKINGDOM : Viridaeplantae

PHYLUM : Tracheophyta

SUBPHYLUM : Euphyllophytina

INFRAPHYLUM : Radiatopses

CLASS : Magnoliopsida

SUBCLASS : Dilleniidae

SUPERORDER : Urticanae

ORDER : Urticales

FAMILY : Moraceae

Ficus may be tree or shrub. It is also noticed that the male and female flowers are present on

same plant. Figs are present with the bracts or may not be with it. Plant is also often epiphytic

and produces long aerial root. Plant produces longs aerial roots which can form trunks are

called banyan tree.[8]

Various species of Ficus available in china are as given below

Ficus abelii, Ficus altissima, Ficus ampelas, Ficus annulata, Ficus asperiuscula, Ficus

aurantiaca, Ficus auriculata, Ficus beipeiensis, Ficus benguetensis Ficus benjamina, Ficus

callosa, Ficus cardiophylla, Ficus carica, Ficus caulocarpa, Ficus chapaensis, Ficus

chartacea, Ficus chrysocarpa, Ficus ciliata, Ficus concinna, Ficus cumingii, Ficus


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curtipes, Ficus cyrtophylla, Ficus daimingshanensis, Ficus dinganensis, Ficus drupacea,

Ficus elastica, Ficus erecta, Ficus esquiroliana, Ficus filicauda, Ficus fistulosa, Ficus

formosana, Ficus fusuiensis, Ficus gasparriniana, Ficus geniculata, Ficus glaberrima,

Ficus guangxiensis, Ficus guizhouensis, Ficus hederacea, Ficus henryi, Ficus

heteromorpha, Ficus heterophylla, Ficus heteropleura, Ficus hirta, Ficus hispida, Ficus

hookeriana, Ficus irisana, Ficus ischnopoda, Ficus laevis, Ficus langkokensis, Ficus

maclellandi, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus napoensis, Ficus neriifolia, Ficus nervosa, Ficus

oligodon, Ficus orthoneura, Ficus ovatifolia, Ficus pandurata, Ficus pedunculosa, Ficus

pisocarpa, Ficus polynervis, Ficus prostrata, Ficus pubigera, Ficus pubilimba, Ficus

pubinervis, Ficus pumila, Ficus pyriformis, Ficus racemosa, Ficus religiosa, Ficus

ruficaulis, Ficus rumphii, Ficus ruyuanensis, Ficus sagittata, Ficus sarmentosa, Ficus

semicordata, Ficus septica, Ficus simplicissima, Ficus squamosa, Ficus stenophylla, Ficus

stricta, Ficus subincisa, Ficus subulata, Ficus superba, Ficus tannoensis, Ficus tikoua,

Ficus tinctoria, Ficus trichocarpa, Ficus trivia, Ficus tsiangii, Ficus tuphapensis, Ficus

undulata, Ficus vaccinioides, Ficus variegata, Ficus variolosa, Ficus vasculosa, Ficus

virens, Ficus virgata and Ficus yunnanensis.[1]

FICUS BENGALENSIS

Taxonomy: -

KINGDOM : Plantae

SUBKINGDOM : Tracheobionta

SUPER DIVISION : Spermatophyta

DIVISION : Magnoliophyta

CLASS : Magnoliopsida

SUBCLASS : Hamamelidae

ORDER : Urticales

FAMILY : Moraceae

GENUS : Ficus

SPECIES : F. bengalensis

(Ahmad, et al., 2011)

SYNONYMS OF FIUCS BENGALENSIS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN INDIA

ENGLISH – Banyan tree, SANSKRIT – Nyagrodhah, HINDI – Bat, Bargad, BENGALI –


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Bar, Bot, MARATHI – Vada, TAMIL – Alamaram, Peral, TELGU – Peddamarri,

MALAYALAM – Peral, Vatavriksham, GUJRATI – Vad (Joy, et al., 1998).

HABITAT

It is easily available in India. It is located at 1200 m height from sea level (Narayan, et al.,

2006).

DISTRIBUTION

It is native to Asia, from India through Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Southeast Asia,

southern China, and Malaysia (Starr, et al., 2003). It is indigenous to India where it grows

from low altitudes to 2,000 ft (610 m), especially in dry regions.

TRADITIONAL USES

According to Ayurveda it is astringent to bowels. It is used in treatment of various diseases

such as biliousness, ulcers, erysipelas, vomiting, vaginal complains, fever, inflammations and

leprosy (Varanasi, 2007). According to Unani system of medicines F. bengalensis latex has

thousands therapeutic actions and used as aphrodisiac, tonic, vulnerary, maturant, lessens

inflammations, useful in piles, gonorrhea, neuralgia, rheumatism, lumbago bruises, nasitis,

ulorrhagia, ulitis, odontopathy, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, cracks of the sole and skin diseases

(Ahmad, et al., 2011). F. bengalensis leaf buds were act as astringent and leaves infusion is

given in diarrhea and dysentery. People prefer F. bengalensis leaves in treatment of various

disease such as in ulcers, leprosy, allergic conditions of skin and various types of burning

sensations. A decoction of leaf buds and aerial roots of F. bengalensis was given for checking

vomiting. Sometimes it is also given during fever with burning sensation (Khare, 2004). The

aerial root is styptic, useful in syphilis, biliousness, dysentery, inflammation of liver,

obstinate vomiting, leucorrhoea and in osteomalacia of the limbs (Prajapai, 2003). The bark

of F. bengalensis shows various therapeutic effects such as it is used in diabetes, leucorrhoea,

lumbago, sores, ulcers pains and bruises. Aqueous extract of F. bengalensis bark is used in

burning sensation, haemoptysis, haemorrhages, diarrhoea, dysentery, enuresis, skin diseases,

gonorrhea, and hyperpiesia (Parrotta, 2001).

Charaka prescribed aqueous extract of leaves and bark of F. bengalensis when mixed with

sugar and honey, mixture is useful in diarrhea. Also aerial roots or leaf buds were useful in

hemorrhages and bleeding piles (Syed, 1990; Patil and Patil, 2010). The fruits of F.

bengalensis were act as a refrigerant, tonic and useful in vitiated condition of pitta. Milky


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juice and seeds are beneficial in local application to sores, ulcers, cracked soles of feet,

inflamed feet and in rheumatism. Tender ends of the hanging (aerial) roots are antiemetic.

(Chatterjee, 1997).

PHYTOCONSTITUENTS

The bark contains leucopelargonidin-3-0-α-L rhamnoside and leuco cynidin 3-0-α-D

galactosyl cellobioside, glucoside, beta glucoside, pentatriacontan-5-one, beta sitosterolalpha-

D-glucose. A glycoside of leucopelargonidin was also isolated from the bark. The leaves

contains crude protein, crude fibres, CaO, phosphorous, rutin, friedelin, taraxosterol, lupeol,

β-amyrin along with psoralen, bergapten and β-sisterol, quercetin-3-galactoside. It also

contains leucodelphinidin derivative, bengalenoside, aglucoside, leucopelargonin and

leucocynidin derivatives. The latex contains resin, albumin, cerin, sugar, and malic acid

(Joseph and Raj, 2011).

Plant material

Dried leaves of F. bengalensis were collected from HARI OM HERBS of Santinagar

Chhutmalpur in july 2014. The plant was authenticated by Dr. K. MADHAVA CHETTY, Sri

Venkateswara University, TIRUPATI and the plant specimen is kept at the Herbarium of

G.H.G Khalsa College of Pharmacy Gurusar Sudhar, Ludhiana.

Macroscopy

Dried leaves of plant were subjected to organoleptic evaluation by observing it with naked

eye.

Microscopic and histological techniques

Study of sections

Preliminary treatment to leaf is given by soaking them into water filled beaker so that

sufficient moistening is obtained for microscopy. Thin transverse section of leaf is made by

placing it into potato pith so that it is divided into equal half’s by razor or with the help of

suitable support (WHO, 1998). Collect the thin sections in a large petriplate (borosilicate)

filled with water. Then place one suitable thin section on glass slide and treated the material

with chloral hydrate so that clear section is obtained under microscope (Johansen, 1940).

Further staining of thin section is done by safranin dye or fast green for staining xylem and

phloem cells respectively (Brien, 1964). DPX which is a mixture of distyrene, tricresyl

phosphate and xylene is used as moutant.


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Powder microscopy

Dried powdered material was obtained by grinding leaves into grinder. Then powdered

material was cleared with chloral hydrate and mounted in glycerine. Prepared glass slide is

observed under microscope for evaluation of microscopic features of drugs (WHO, 1998).

RESULTS

Macroscopy

Macroscopy of leaves of F. bengalensis is done and observed the characteristics as leaves

colour is green and the shape of leaf is elliptic or ovate. The size of leaf was measured as it

was 10 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm wide. Leaf venations were pinnate. Leaves were spirally

arranged for F. bengalensis plant.

Powdered leaves exhibit characteristics as the powdered leaves shows pale green colour.

They are odourless and taste is slightly bitter.

Microscopy

Thin transverse section of leaf is taken and observed under microscope to reveal the types of

cells present in F. bengalensis plant. All the images for transverse section of midrib are first

observed under 10x magnification of microscope and then bright image is taken at 40x

magnification of microscope so that perspicuous or lucid image is obtained. The thin section

of leaf midrib reveals the presence of upper epidermis which is made up of rectangular cells,

below upper epidermis hypodermis layer is present. Parenchymatous cells are rounded to

polygonal and compactly arranged. Upper epidermis, parenchymatous cells and

collenchymas are collectively called cortex. Endodermis cells make outer layer of vascular

bundles. It is observed from transverse section of leaf that Vascular bundle is composed of

radial arrangement of xylem and phloem, pith of rounded cells. Palisade cells are stacked and

trichomes are unicellular. Collenchymas cells shape is rounded to polygonal. Lower

epidermis layer is also made up of rectangular cells as seen in transverse section of midrib.


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Fig 1: Transverse section representing midrib of leaf of F. bengalensis. Image is taken at

10x.

Fig 2: Rounded to polygonal collenchyma cells. Image is taken at 40x.

Fig 3: Unicellular trichomes are observed at 40x.


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Powder microscopy

Powder of F. bengalensis leaves when observed under 40x reveals the presence of fibers and

cuboidal calcium oxalate crystals.

Fig4:a Fig 4: b

Fig 4: Images a and b shows the presence of fibers at 40x.

Fig 5 (a): Represents cluster of calcium oxalate crystals at 40x.

Fig 5: b Fig 5: c

Fig 5: b and c represents cuboidal shape large and small calcium oxalate crystals at 40x.


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DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The pharmacognostic studies revealed the morphological characters of leaves like shape -

elliptic or ovate, size - 10 to 30 cm long and 7 to 15 cm wide, leaf venation – pinnate, colour

– green, odour – odourless, taste – slightly bitter.

F. bengalensis was subjected to microscopic study. Thin transverse section of leaf midrib

reveals the presence of upper and lower epidermal layers which were composed of

rectangular cells. Both epidermal cells show the presence of simple unicellular trichomes.

Below upper epidermis layer, compactly arranged parenchyma cells were observed which

were laid below hypodermis. It was clear from Fig. 1 that Parenchyma cells were round.

Endodermis layer surrounds whole vascular bundle. Vascular bundles were feebly developed

with xylem and phloem. Radial arrangement was observed for xylem and phloem, present in

vascular bundle. It is confirmed from Fig. 1 that Pith cells were rounded. Palisade cells were

placed near cortex in staked form, laminar region was also feebly developed with spongy and

palisade parenchymatous tissue. Fig. 1 shows that collenchyma cells were round to

polygonal.

Powder microscopy showed the presence of cuboidal shape calcium oxalate crystals and

fibers in fig 4 and 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful to G.H.G College of Pharmacy, Gurusar Sudhar, Ludhiana to

provide us all facilities required for the preparation of this article.

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TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERIZATION