Studies on characterization of starch granules from botanicals using foldscope microscopy

Starch containing foods are an important source of energy in our diet. the present investigation of our study is observation of starch granules from some medicinally and nutritionally potential plant parts with the help of “Foldscope Microscopy”. Experimented plant samples were selected based on the potentiality in its active medicinal and nutritional qualities, which are collected from the different parts of Nagaon district, Assam. A total no. of 15 highly starch containing plant species (i.e. rhizome, tuber and seed portion) were studied. Microscopic characterization of starch granules in plants samples were done by observing fresh sections of plant parts under foldscope. Beside this, the qualitative phytochemical analysis for carbohydrate was studied from the crude sample of respective plant parts. Microscopic characterization is one of the most convenient methods for the standardization of crude drugs. From this investigation, the microscopic study revealed about the structural diversity and density of starch granules in plant species. this study will help for more details as well as discovery of alternative source of food reserve for upcoming future.