Pharmacognostic Study of Melilotus officinalis / 中国药房

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:To study pharmacognosy of Melilotus officinalis.METHODS:Qualitative identification of M.officinalis was conducted in respects of morphology,macroscopic characters,microscopic identification,UV spectra for medicinal extracts and IR spectra for medicinal powder.RESULTS:Nineteen bundles of rays were distributed in the radial bundle of root cross section of M.officinalis.The main vein vascular bundle of leaf cross section had a palisade tissue passing over it.The pith of the cross section of the stem occupied 4/5 of the whole cross section.The cross section of the leafstalk was heart-shaped,and unequal vascular bundles arranged in a triangular array.There were glandular hairs,which consist of three cells,and unicellular non glandular hairs in leaf epidermis.The crystal fibers of calcium oxalate crystals and infinitive blowhole were found in the leaves;glandular hairs and non glandular hairs could be found in the leafstalk under tissue dissociation;verrucous like protuberance and threaded catheter were found on the surface.The UV spectrum of extract and two order derivative IR spectrum of the medicinal powder showed obvious characteristics.CONCLUSIONS:Established method can be used for pharmacognostic identification of M.officinalis.