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www.wjpps.com Vol 4, Issue 08, 2015.
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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.
WWOORRLLDD JJOOUURRNNAALL OOFF PPHHAARRMMAACCYY AANNDD PPHHAARRMMAACCEEUUTTIICCAALL SSCCIIEENNCCEESS
SSJJIIFF IImmppaacctt FFaaccttoorr 55..221100
VVoolluummee 44,, IIssssuuee 0088,, 661144--662244 RReevviieeww AArrttiiccllee IISSSSNN 2278 – 4357
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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Punitkanwal et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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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