PHARMACOGNOSY MANUAL

SEMESTER 4

Practical No. 7
Study The Datura Leaf Powder Under Microscope. Draw Its Structure
And Label It.
Botanical name: Datura stramonium
Common name: Datura herb/ jimson weed
Vernacular name: Dhatura
Family: Solanaceae
Part used: Dried leaves
Geographical source: Datura is found in European conteries, cultivated in Germany, France South America. And in
Pakistan it is found in Baluchistan gilgit and azad Kashmir
Chemical constituents:
It contains up to 0.5% of total alkaloids among which has seen hyoscine (scopolamine) is main alkaloid while
hyoscyamine and atropine are present in very less quantities.
Uses:
It is used in the treatment of spasm of bronchioles in asthema and cough.
Hyoscine hydrobromide is used in motionsikness
It provides symptomatic reliefe in GIT upset, spasm and ulcers
Hyoscine is main alkaloid in Datura herb which has parasympatholytic with anticholinergic and CNS
depressant effect. The drug is used in cereberal excitement and along with morphine it is used as
preoperative, medication results in increase level of anesthesia.
Microscopic features of Senna Powder
Datura powder show following features under microscope
Epidermis: it is single layered with slightly wavy anticlinal walls and smooth cutical stomata are more frequent on
;ower surface
Trichomes: covering trichomes are conical uniseriate with 3-5 cells and warty walls. Glanduler tichomes are short
and clavate(club shaped thikerb at apex then the base) with heads form by 2-7 cells.
Mesophills: it is composed of palisade cells and sopongy parenchyma. Palaside cells are single layered and readly
elongated. Spongy parenchyma consist of 6-8 layers that are loosly arranged having interacelluler spaces.
PHARMACOGNOSY MANUAL
SEMESTER 4

Mid rib: it has bilateral stucture containing 2-3 layers of collenchyma cells on both surfeces.
PHARMACOGNOSY MANUAL
SEMESTER 4