Pharmacognosy of Cytisus Scoparius Linn.

Abstract

Cytisus Scoparius Linn. is a small deciduous shrub belonging to family Leguminosae. The green twigs are used as a heart tonic and diurectic in dropsy, besides in angina pectoirs, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. It is also a substitute for digitalis. The stem is dark in colour with strong aromatic odour. A thick layer of cuticle covers the epidermis. Stomata occur in the furrows either flushed with epidermis or raised. Hypodermis is chlorenchymatous ring enclosed by a sclerenchymatous pericycle. Histochemistry, microscopical characters of powder, preliminary colour reactions and U.V. studies are presented in this paper.