Abstract:
Background: Ficus carica L. known as ‘Common Fig’ in English and ‘Anjir’ in Hindi,
is a well known tree belonging to the family Moraceae. The unripe fruits are used as
medicine in Homoeopathy.
Objective: The pharmacognostic and physico–chemical studies are carried out to
facilitate use of correct species and standard raw materials.
Material and Methods: Pharmacognostic studies on unripe fruits of authentic samples
of Ficus carica L. have been carried out; Physico–chemical parameters of raw drug viz.,
extractive value, ash values, formulation, besides weight per mL, total solids, alcohol
content along with High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Ultra
violet–visible studies have been worked out for mother tincture.
Results: The unripe fruit is a syconium, globose, light green and externally tomentose.
Stomata are anomocytic or actinocytic. Trichomes are unicellular conical. The 1–layered
epidermis in transection (T.S.) is marked by hair bases with conspicuously large encircling
cells. Inner cortex is aerenchymatous and possesses laticiferous tubes. Vascular bundles are
present in the cortex towards inside. In T.S. inner fruit wall possess female fl owers. Physicochemical
properties and HPTLC values of this plant have been standardised.
Conclusion: The powder microscopic features and organoleptic characters along with
anatomical and physico–chemical studies are diagnostic to establish the standards for
the drug.
