Author(s): M Prathapa Reddy, TR Shantha and Sulochana Bhat

Abstract: ‘Ajamoda’ refers to an important drug used in Ayurvedic system of medicine, which consists of umbelliferous fruits. As per Ayurvedic Formulary of India, part-3, the botanical equivalent for Ajamoda is Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) Muell., but in market samples, the fruits of Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC.) H. Wolff and Apium graveolens are commonly used substitutes. In order to identify the each drug individually from each other of these 3 fruits, first we have attempted to establish the pharmacognostical standards for Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC.) H. Wolff as per the latest Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (part-1, volume-8). The microscopical studies on the fruits revealed the presence of prominent hispid cremocarps with five distinct longitudinal ridges in each mericarp with warty surface, commissural surface flat, odour strongly aromatic. Microscopical studies showed the presence of papillose epidermis, warty unicellular rounded and T shaped trichomes, collateral vascular bundles, oil globules and microrosette crystals of calcium oxalate in endosperm region. Physicochemical analysis for powder drug, water extract and water-alcoholic extract has been carried out in order to establish the pharmacognostical standards for the fruits of T. roxburghianum (DC.) H. Wolff.