Abstract:
Ammi visnaga L. is an annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. The dried ripe fruits of
this plant are powerful bronchial antispasmodic, cures asthma, besides a strong photosensitiser.
The fruit is small, 2 – 2.5 mm in diameter, oval or ellipsoid to lanceolate; each mericarp in
transection appears as a pentagon; vittae are present in the secondary ridges; primary ridges
possess glandular lacunae; endosperm is enclosed by a testa; aleurone grains are present in
the endosperm besides a few sphaeraphides. The powder microscopic and organoleptic characters
are provided. Physico-chemical parameters of raw drug viz., extractive values, ash values,
formulation, besides weight per ml., total solids, alcohol content along with Thin Layer
Chromatographic (TLC) and Ultra Violet Spectroscopic (UV) studies have been undertaken for
mother tincture.
