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Definition: The Seed is a mature fertilized ovule containing an embryo (originated from fertilized ovules). The function of the seed is to ensure the propagation of the plant.
nucellus
Polar nuclei
Embryo sac [ 7-8 nuclei ] Inner integument Antipodal cells chalaza funicle
Vascular bundle
Outgrowths of testa
1- Arillus or Arili It arises from the funicle or from the tissue of the hilum and partly or completely enveloping the seed. It may be fleshy as in texture or dry and membranous as in Cardamom. 2- Arillode It arises from the tissue of the micropyle and partly or completely covering the seed, being usually fleshy as in Euonymus. N.B. The outgrowth of Nutmeg, named mace, arises from the tissues of both funicle and micropyle and thus it is considered as Arillus or Arillode. 3- Caruncle It is a localised fleshy outgrowth, formed from the tissue in the neighbourhood of the micropyle and covers it as in Ricinus and Croton seeds. 4- Strophiole It is a local, usually barrel-shaped enlargement along the line of the raph, due to an increase in the amount of parenchyma around the vascular strand of the raph as in Colchicum seed. 5- Wing It is an extension of the testa in the form of a membranous fold as in Pinus or in the form of plume of hairs at the summit as in Apocynaceae or at the base as in Salix or at both ends of the seed as in Alstonia. The plume is sessile and when borne on a stalk it is termed awn as in Strophanthus.
A- Cardamom (illuars). B- Nutmeg (mace). C- Castor seed (caruncle). D- Colchicum seed (strophiole). E- Salix seed (tuft of hairs). F- Argel seed (tuft of hairs). G- Pinus seed (with a wing) .H- Strophanthus seed (awn).a., awn; ca., caruncle.
A- Cardamom (arillus) .B- Nutmeg (mace) .C- Castor seed (caruncle). D- Colchicum seed (strophiole). E- Salix seed (tuft of hairs) .F- Argel seed (tuft of hairs). G- Pinus seed (with a wing) .H- Strophanthus seed (awn) .a., awn; ca., caruncle.
Exalbuminous: In which the kernel consists of an embryo alone e.g. mustard. Albuminous: In which the kernel consists of an embryo and surrounding by endosperm (e.g. linseed, fenugreek, nuxvomica) or both perisperm and of endosperm (e.g. cardamom, nutmeg)
Funicle or hilum (h.) Chalaza (ch) Micropyle (m.) Embryo sac (es.)
Atropous
Types of ovules
Anatropous
No raphe
Campylotropous
raphe
Amphitropous
Forms of Embryo A- Incumbent, entire. F- Spiral B- Incumbent, in T.C. G- Coiled.C- Accumbent, entire. H- Orthoplocus D- Accumbent, in T.S. I- Orthoplocus, in T.S.E-Spiral embryo.Cots., cotyledons, En., endosperm, Rad., radicle; T., testa.
5 Forms of Embryo A-Incumbent,entire. B-Incumbent,inT.C.. C-Accumbent,entire. D-Accumbent,inT.S.. E-Spiral embryo. F- Spiral G- Coiled H- Orthoplocus I- Orthoplocus, in T.S Cots., cotyledons, En., endosperm, Rad., radicle; T., testa.
Funicle or hilum (h.) Chalaza (ch) Micropyle (m.) Embryo sac (es.)
Atropous
Types of ovules
Anatropous
No raphe
Campylotropous
raphe
Amphitropous
Linseed
Origin: Linseed is the dried ripe seeds of Linum usitatissimum Linn Family: Linaceae.
Oval, flattened and shiny brown. Type of seed: Albuminous. Type of ovule: Anatropous. Type of embryo: Straight. Odor: Odorless when entire but characteristic when crushed. Taste: mucilaginous, bitter, oily.
Constituents:
-30 to 40% of fixed oil. , 40% has high content of the unsaturated fatty acids and must be consumed as part of diet. - 25% of protein. 25% - 3-6% of mucilage -Small amount of a cyanogentic glycoside called linamarin.
Pigment layer
Characters of powder:
Powdered Linseed has a characteristic odour and a mucilaginous oily taste. Microscopically, it is characterized by: Numerous oil globules, stained red with globules, alkana tincture and sudan III. III. Fragments with yellowish-brown yellowishsclerenchymatous cells, generally appearing cells, crossed by thin walled elongated cells on one side and by rounded somewhat thickened parenchyma on the other. This structure called mat like shape.
Characters of powder
Chemical test
Linamarin + H2O 37C Glucose + Acetocyanohydrin Enzymatic hydrolysis Acetone + HCN HCN Na-Picrate Na-Picramate (Yellow) Reduction (Brick red)
Key elements
1- Pigment layer
2- Sclerieds
Black Mustard
Origin Black mustard is the dried ripe seeds of Brassica nigra. Family Cruciferae Constituents - Mucilage; - Fixed oil and Protein. - Glycoside, sinigrin +myrosin enzyme in the presence of water yield glucose+ potassium sulphate + allylisothiocyanate (volatile oil).
Brassica Alba
White mustard and Yellow mustard
Origin White mustard is the dried ripe seeds of Brassica alba Family Cruciferae.
-Fixed oil and protein. -Mucilage. -Crystalline glycoside, sinalbin+ myrosin enzyme + water yield glucose + K-acid sinapine sulphate + acrinyl-iso-thiocyanate. acrinyl isothiocyanate with a pungent taste and powerful rubefacient action as it is not volatile.
Constituents:
Semen Foenugreek
Origin: Foenugreek is the dried ripe seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linne Family Leguminosae.
Nutritive layer
Palisade cells
Basket cells
Constituents: Mucilage. -Alkaloids : trigonelline and choline -Flavonoids: apigenin, luteolin and quercetin. -Saponins Glycosides -coumarin, lipids (5-8 %), vitamins and minerals (a rich source of selenium).
Semen Psyllii
Psyllium seed,
Origin Dried ripe seed of Plantago psyllium L. and P. albicans L. fam. Plantaginaceae.
1.
Constituents : mucilage. fixed oil and protein. iridoid glycosides e.g. aucubin
Semen Strychni
Characters of powder
1- Sclereid epidermis with thick lignified walled (ten ribed lignified trichomes). 2- Numerous fragments of endosperm with hemicellulosic thick -walled polyhedral cells interconecting by a channels called plasmodesma. 3- Numerous lignified rod shaped fragments of ribs. Constituents: -Indole alkaloids: strychnine and brucine (1.8-5.3%). Strychnine is much more physiologically active than brucine. -The seeds also contain chlorogenic acid and an iridoid glycoside (loganin). This compounds are intermediates in the biogenesis of the strychnine type alkaloids
Lignified ribs
Constituents:
-Indole alkaloids: strychnine and brucine
Uses and actions : It increases the blood pressure used as a circulatory stimulant in such cases as surgical shock Used as aphrodisiac strychnine used as antidote for barbiturates poisoning.
Toxicity
In large doses, it causes violent convulsions and these involve the respiratory muscles and death ensues from asphyxiation.
Semen Colchici
Origin Colchicum seed is the dried ripe seeds of Colchicum autumnale. Family Liliaceae Constituents -Alkaloid: colchicine. - resin, fixed oil and glucose.
Semen Strophanthi
Origin Strophanthus is the dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus komb, of S . Hispidus. or of S. gratus Family: Apocynaceae deprived of their awns. One gm of Strophanthus corresponds in potency not less than 0.055 gm of the International Standard Ouabain
Semen Nutmeg
Origin: Nutmeg is the dried ripe seeds of Myristica fragrans. Family Myristicaceae, deprived of its arillus and testa.
Constituents:
-Volatile oil (5 to 15 %) which contains myristicin and elmicin which are related structurally and possess the same stimulant and psychomimetic effect as amphetamine saponin.
Semen Cardamomi -
Origin: Cardamom seed is the dried ripe or nearly ripe seeds of Elettaria cardamomum Family Zingiberaceae, recently separated from the fruit.To protect the lose of volatile oils
Constituents
-Volatile oil yield 4%. -Fixed oil (1-10%) calcium oxalate.(Prisms & sandy)
Nigella seed ( )
Constituents
1 - Volatile oil 1.4 %; thymoquinone is the major constituent . 2 - Fixed oil a) Unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (Omega 6) 58 %, linolenic acid (Omega 3). b) Saturated fatty acids as myristic and palmitic acids 3 - Protein composed of nine essential amino acids (not formed by the body) and arginine (amino acid used for infant growth). 4 - Vitamins, ( B1 , B2 , B6 , Niacin ) ,minerals ( Calcium , Iron , Zinc , and Copper ), carbohydrates hexoses and pentoses
Nigella has a powerful antiasthmatic effect due to thymoquinone i.e. used in bronchial asthma. Decrease the probability of arteriosclerosis and prevents thrombosis, this is due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3 & Omega 6). Nigella has antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic
Origin The dried ripe seeds of Prunus communis var. dulcis (sweet almond) and prunus communis var. amara (Bitter almond) Family: Rosaceae
Constituents
-Fixed oil 45-50%, protein 20%, -Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycoside) if bitter almond is crushed and mixed with water, Amygdalin is enzymatically hydrolyzed giving benzaldehyde (volatile oily substance), hydrocyanic acid and glucose
Evening primrose
Origin
Constituents
stearic acids. Fixed oil (14%) Known as evening primrose oil EPO. This oil is the best natural source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). The EPO contains cis-linoleic, oleic, palmitic and
uses
Evening primrose oil EPO is licensed for the treatment of the following A- Coronary heart diseases (CHD) B- Diabetic neuropathy: Neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes. PUFA Improve blood circulation around nerves. C- Premenstrual syndrome and clinical mastalgia. D- Atopic eczema, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, post viral fatigue syndrome and asthma.
Constituents
-unsaturated fatty acid linoleic (64%) phytosterols, steroidal glucosides , toco pherols ( vitamin E ) - Trace elements particularly selenium, manganese, zinc and copper. - Pectins and protein.
Semen Ricini
The dried ripe seeds of Ricinus communis, Family Euphorbiaceae Constituents: -The seeds contain 50 % of the fixed oil. It contains Palmitic and Ricinoleic acid. - Protein 26% -Ricinine alkaloid and ricin a toxin similar to bacterial toxin.
Contraindication:
Do not use castor oil if you are suffering from kidney, bladder, bile duct, intestine infections or jaundice. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing. Do not administer this drug to children under 12 years of age.
Calabar beans
Origin The dried ripe seeds of Physostigma venenosum Family Leguminoseae Constituents: -The chief constituent is the alkaloid physostigmine (eserine) 0.04-0.3%.
Semen Hippocastani
Origin: Horse chestnut is the dried and fresh kernel of Aesculus hippocostanum L. Family Hippocastamaceae. Constituents: -Saponin referred to as escin (which is a complex mixture of over 30 individual pentacyclic triterpene diester glycosides). -Flavones, caumarins and tannins are also present.
Contraindications
Horse-chest nut should not be applied to broken or ulcerated skin. Side effects and/or toxicity: Overdose will result in damage in the gastrointestinal mucous membrane. The absorbed escin will cause haemolysis associated with kidney damage.
Poppy seeds
Origin: dried ripe seeds of Papaver somniferum (F. Papaveraceae Active Constituents Free from morphine traces of narcotine & Fixed oil
Medicinal uses:
fine oil, drying oil for paints
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
1 1 Palisade layer of the testa in surface view, seen the palisade layer of the testa, seen from
below. from above, showing part of the network 6 Parenchyma of the embryo. arrangement. 7 Palisade layer of the testa in surface view, (a) 2 Endosperm layer (en.s.), in sectional view, with seen from above and (b) seen from below. attached pigment layer of the testa (pg.) and 8 Pigment layer of the testa (pg.) in surface view underlying collapsed parenchymatous cells with part of the underlying endosperm (en.s.). (c.p.). 9 Part of the seed in sectional view showing the 3 Epidermis of a cotyledon in surface view show- epidermis (ep.), hypodermis (h.), palisade ing developing stomata and part of the under- layer (p.l.) and pigment layer of the testa, with lying palisade (pal.). underlying endosperm (en.s.) and collapsed 4 Part of a cotyledon in sectional view showing parenchymatous layers (c.p.). the epidermis (ep.) and underlying mesophyll. 10 Palisade layer of the testa in surface view, from 5 Endosperm layer in surface view with part of below, showing less uniform cells.
Cardamom
Cardamom
1 Epidermis of the testa (ep.) in surface view with 8 Perisperm cells containing starch granules and underlying oil cells. prisms of calcium oxalate. 2 A group of spirally thickened vessels and 9 Part of the sclerenchymatous layer of the testa associated parenchyma. in sectional view showing silica nodules (s.). 3 Sclerenchymatous layer of the testa in surface 10 Sclerenchymatous layer of the testa from an view, seen from above, showing silica nodules immature seed, in surface view. (s.). 11 Parenchyma of the perisperm from which the 4 Oil cells of the testa in surface view containing starch has been removed, showing prisms of globules of volatile oil (v.o.), with underlying calcium oxalate in some of the cells. hypodermis (h.) and epidermis (ep.). 12 Parenchyma of the testa in surface view. 5 Starch granules. 13 Epidermis of the testa in sectional view. 6 Prisms of calcium oxalate. 14 Arillus in surface view. 7 Sclerenchymatous layer of the testa in surface 15 Arillus with underlying epidermis of the testa in view, seen from below. surface view. 46
Foenugreek
Foenugreek
1 Epidermis of the testa in surface view, from 7 Epidermis (ep.) and hypodermis (h.) of the above. testa in surface view, from above. 2 Cuticle (c), epidermis (ep.) and hypodermis 8 Layers of the parenchyma of the testa in surface (h.) of the testa in sectional view. view. 3 Hypodermis of the testa in surface view, from 9 Outermost layer of the endosperm in surface below. view. 4 Epidermis of the testa in surface view, from 10 Epidermis and palisade of the cotyledons in below. sectional view. 5 Epidermis and parenchymatous cells of the 11 Undifferentiated parenchyma of the cotylecotyledons in sectional view. dons. 6 Part of the seed in sectional view showing the 12 A single layer of the parenchyma of the testa in epidermis, hypodermis and parenchymatous surface view. layers (p.) of the testa and the outermost layer (en.s.) and the mucilage cells (mu.) of the endosperm.
Linseed
Linseed
1 Pigment layer of the testa in surface view show- 7 Part of a cell of the sclerenchymatous layer in ing the cells containing pigment (pg.c.) and longitudinal sectional view, showing the denunderlying endosperm cells (en.s.). tate outline corresponding to the adjacent 2 Epidermis (ep.) and two layers of parenchyma parenchymatous cells. of the testa (p.) in sectional view. 8 Part of the testa in surface view showing the 3 Part of the testa in surface view showing the epidermis (ep.) and underlying parenchyma epidermis (ep.), two layers of parenchyma (p.) (p.). and sclerenchyma (s.l.). 9 Thick-walled cells of the sclerenchyma layer in 4 Pigment layer of the testa (pg.) and endosperm surface view. (en.s.) in sectional view. 10 Thin-walled cells of the sclerenchyma layer 5 Isolated masses of pigment. (s.l.) in surface view, with associated hyaline 6 Part of the testa in sectional view showing the layer (hy.). sclerenchymatous layer (s.l.), collapsed hyaline 11 Moderately thickened cells of the sclerenchyma layer and pigment layer. layer in surface view.
Nux Vomica
Nux Vomica
1 Part of the sclerenchymatous epidermis of the testa in side view, with parts of the trichomes testa in side view, with broken-off remains of the attached. trichome rods attached. 7 Sclerenchymatous layer of the testa in surface 2 Part of a large trichome. view showing the bases of the lignified rods and 3 Outer part of the endosperm in sectional view. pigment (pg.) in some of the cells. 4 An almost complete trichome showing the 8 Endosperm cells from the central region, rounded apex. 9 Outer layer of the endosperm in surface view, 5 Fragments of trichome rods. with associated pigment layer of the testa (pg.). 6 Part of the sclerenchymatous epidermis of the
Strophanthus
Strophanthus
1 Sclerenchymatous epidermis of the testa in sur- lapsed layers of the testa and the outermost face view showing the remains of the trichomes layer of the endosperm (en.s.). on some of the cells. 9 Parenchyma of the cotyledons. 2 Part of a cotyledon in sectional view. 10 Calcium oxalate cluster crystals. 3 Layers of the endosperm in surface view. 11 Sclerenchymatous epidermis of the testa in sur4 Epidermis of a cotyledon in surface view. face view. 5 Sclerenchymatous layer of the testa in sectional 12 Parenchyma and vessels of the raphe. view showing an attached trichome. 13 Outer part of the seed in sectional view showing 6 Trichomes. broken epidermal cells, collapsed pigment 7 Fragments of trichomes. layers of the testa and the outer layer of the 8 Tissues of the raphe in sectional view showing a endosperm, group of vessels, parenchymatous cells, col