BELONGING TO FAMILY CRUCIFERAE SINAPIS ARVENSIS L. PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDY OF

Abstract

The leaves of S. arvensis are simple, alternate, lower leaves are triangular ovate with dentate margin, having short petiole and acute apices, measuring 11-15 em long and 5-8 em width in the wider part. Upper leaves are lanceolate, measuring 4 - 7 em in length and 1.5 - 3 em width in the wider part. The leaves have symmetric base. The upper surface is dark green colour while the lower is pale green and hairy. They have reticulate venation and strongly prominent midrib on the lower surface. The leaf has slight bitter taste with faint odour. Micromorphology of the leaf•

A transverse section in the leaf shows a prominent midrib on the lower surface and somewhat thick lamina. The leaf possesses a dorsiventral structure, the palisade is discontinuous in the midrib region where it is replaced by a hypodermal parenchyma. The midrib shows a large schizogenous cavity in the upper part, the lower part of the midrib shows separated collateral vascular bundles, each one is provided with pericycle of an outer and inner arc of parenchyma cells and surrounded with endodermis. The lower surface of the leaf bearing non-glandular hairs. 1-The epidermis:

The epidermal cells of both surfaces consists of one row of tabular, polygonal, axially elongated cells with wavy anticlinal walls. The lower epidermis bearing non-glandular, unicellular hairs covered with thick punctate cuticle. The epidennal cells covered with moderately thick smooth cuticle. The upper epidermal cells are somewhat larger in size and having Jess wavy anticlinal walls than those of the lower surface.