Physicochemical and anatomical studies of Curcuma inodora blatt

Attempts were made to standardized C. inodora by studying anatomical and physicochemical parameters. The anatomy of root, rhizome, leaf and petiole was studied. Leaves showed unicellular, uni-seriate, non-glandular trichomes and paracytic type stomata. Maceration study showed existence of thin wall and thick wall parenchyma cell, simple fibers, fiber tracheids, tracheids, and annular, spiral, pitted type vessels. Rhizome revealed presence of Carbohydrate, proteins, starch, amino acid, steroids, glycosides, flavonoid, alkaloids, tannins and phytosterol, but absence of saponin, phenols and terpenoids. These are species specific characters, along with chemical composition, which may be used as pharmacognostic tools for identification.