Pharmacognostical evaluation of Citrus jambhiri Lush. fruit.

BACKGROUND: Citrus jambhiri Lush., commonly known as Jambira Nimbu in Sanskrit is medium to large indigenous tree with spreading habit, less spiny than lemon and belonging to the family Rutaceae. In Ayurveda, it is used in many pharmaceutical procedures of purification (Sodhana), calcination (Marana) etc., Though it is an important plant, till date, no pharmacognostical reports have been available on its fruit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study of fruit and its powder, histochemical tests and preliminary physicochemical investigations were done. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results showed prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, aerenchyma cells, oil globules, pitted vessels, scalariform vessels, juicy sac, etc., Preliminary physicochemical analysis revealed loss on drying (1.1%), ash value (1.4%), alcohol soluble extract (28.6%), and water soluble extract (53.3%). These observations can be of use in future studies.