Macro-microscopic and HPTLC Atlas of Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. Fruit

Background: Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. (Family Leguminosae) is a large annual or perennial climber with a terete glabrous stem, native to Indo-Malaysian and also distributed in tropical, subtropical regions. C. gladiata (Jacq.) DC. is generally confused with another closely related species i.e. C. ensiformis (Linn.) DC (Jack bean). The tender pods of both the above species have close similarity in morphology, especially shape and size of fruit, therefore it is difficult to differentiate on their vegetative and also fruiting stages. The plant C. ensiformis mentioned as a synonym of C. gladiata in many of the earlier literature though they are 2 different taxa. Some authors published different colour seeds in the name of C. gladiata. It is doubtful if C. ensiformis (Linn.) DC. or C. gladiata (Jacq.) DC was studied during that analysis. Objectives: A systematic pharmacognostical study has been executed to identify the correct botanical source. Materials and Methods: All the studies were carried out by standard procedures in Pharmacopoeias and other authentic literature. Results: Macroscopically surface characters followed by odour and taste, anatomically TS of the pericarp, plecenta, testa, cotyledon and radical, powder microscopically epidermal cells with stomata and prismatic crystal cystolith, trichomes, testa palisade cells, sclereids with different shape and size, brownish content, starch grains, tracheids, fibres and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are the unique diagnostic characters observed. HPTLC with different spots having unique Rf values in the pericarp, testa, cotyledon and seeds will be helpful for critical identification of the species. Conclusion: The findings of the present study will be helpful in the identification and differentiation of related species as the whole drug or in powder form.