Botany Study on Corms and Their Properties

Underground Organs - Lecture 1

• Underground organs are collected from perennial plants acting as storage organs for reserve material for subsequent plant use and production of secondary metabolites.
• They comprise two types:
  • Stem origin (rhizomes, corms, bulbs, tubers)
  • Root origin (roots, root tubers)
• The root is the portion of the plant axis derived from the radical, growing toward soil and water.
• Root characteristics:
  • Never develops leaves
  • Shows no nodes and internodes
  • Bears no buds
  • Growing point is covered by root-cap or calyptra
  • Unlike stems, roots have no chlorophyll and only one type of lateral appendage, similar in structure to the parent root, but differing in direction.
• Root zones:
  • Zone of cell differentiation
  • Zone of cell elongation
  • Zone of cell division
  • Zone of root cap
• Root functions:
  • Absorption of water, minerals, and organic compounds from the soil, transporting them to the stem
  • Anchoring the plant to the ground
  • Storage organ and propagation
• Types of roots:
  • Primary roots (e.g., Senega)
  • Secondary roots (e.g., Kremeria)
  • Adventitious roots (e.g., Ipecacuanha, Calumba)
  • Prop roots (e.g., Maize)
  • Fibrous roots (e.g., Grasses)
  • Aerial roots (e.g., Ficus Bengalensis)
  • Respiratory roots (e.g., some plants in water-logged soil)
  • Storage roots (e.g., Belladonna, Umbelliferous roots, Calumba, root tubers)
• Condition of roots for drug collection: usually dry; may be entire, sliced (longitudinally or transversally), or peeled (e.g., Liquorice).

Underground Organs - Lecture 2

• Objectives:

  • Official roots (Ipecacuanha, Liquorice, Senega)
  • Unofficial roots (Radix ginseng, Calumba, Rauwolfia)
  • Official rhizomes (Rhubarb, Ginger, Hydrastis, Valerian)
  • Unofficial rhizomes (Curcuma, Garlic, Onion)

• Ipecacuanha root (Erquel Thahab):

  • Dried root or rhizome of Cephaelis ipecacuanha (Brot) or Cephaelis acuminata

• Macroscopical and Microscopical characters: - Rio root: sub-cylindrical, 5-7mm long, 2-4 mm thick, brick-red to dark brown, transverse constrictions, presence of short, starchy, or splintery wood.  - Cartagena root, longer, thicker, brownish-gray colour. - Microscopically, the cork is dark brown with granular contents. Phelloderm is wide, parenchymatous, containing starch granules (15-22 μm) and calcium oxalate raphides. The phloem forms a narrow ring, with short wedges of sieve tissues. Xylem is primarily triarch.

• Uses: Expectorant and emetic.

• Liquorice:

  • Dried peeled or unpeeled root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne.
  • Spanish Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra var. Typica) or Russian Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra var. Glandulifera) are varieties.

• Constituents and uses:

  • Contains glycyrrhizin, and various flavonoid compounds.
  • Demulcent and mild expectorant, in cough mixtures, treatment of ulcer, gentle laxative, used as mouthwash. Contraindicated in pregnancy and hypertension.
  • Tests for identity Mix a little of powder with 1-2 drops of sulphuric acid (66% v/v), which gives an orange-red color, shaking an aqueous decoction produces a froth.

• Adulteration of Curcuma: Detected by the presence of gelatinized starch and yellow masses.

• Senega:

  • Dried rootstock of Polygala senega
  • Taste: Initially sweet, becoming bitter and acrid.
  • Microscopically: Fewer vessels and numerous tracheids with border pits.
  • Starch and Ca-oxalate are absent.
  • Active constituents: Triterpenoid Saponins like Senegin.
  • Uses: Expectorant in chronic bronchitis.

• Aconite:

  • Dried tuberous roots of Aconitum napellus.
  • Active constituents: Aconitine, picraconitine, aconine, and other alkaloids (hypaconitine, neopelline, napelline, nealine, mesaconitine)
  • Uses: Externally in neuralgia and rheumatism; internally for fever and pain. Now rarely used due to potential toxicity.

• Radix Ginseng:

  • Dried roots of Panax quinquefolium (American) or Panax Shin-seng (Chinese).
  • Active constituents: complex mixture of saponins (or ginsenosides), panacene, volatile oil, sterols, polyacetylene derivatives (e.g. B-elemene), starch, pectin, simple sugars, vitamins, choline, flavonoids.
  • Uses: Adaptogenic, antifatigue, antistress, antiaging, in diabetes treatment, reproductive enhancement, antioxidant, anticancer, and immune system enhancement.

• Calumba:

  • Dried transversely or obliquely sliced root of Jateorhiza palmata.
  • Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids (palmatine, jarorrhizine, calombamine), non-alkaloidal bitter principles (furanoterpenes, calumbin, isocalumbin, palmarin, jateorin, isoateorin), mucilage, and starch.
  • Uses: Stomachic and bitter tonic; prescribed for anorexia and flatulent dyspepsia, possible use with iron salts.

• Rauwolfia (Indian snake root):

  • Dried rhizome and roots of Rauwolfia serpentina.
  • Active constituents: alkaloids (ajmaline, ajmalinine, ajmalicin, serpentine, serpintinine, reserpine, rescinnamine), phytosterols, fatty acids, unsaturated alcohols, fumaric acid.
  • Uses: Hypertension; neuropsychiatric disorders, insomnia, and cardiac arrhythmias.

• Rhizoma Hydrastis (Golden Seal):

  • Dried rhizome and root of Hydrastis canadensis.
  • Constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine, canadine), resin, starch, traces of volatile oils.
  • Uses and tests for identity, reduction of heavy menstrual bleeding, treatment with postpartum haemorrhage, digestive secretion increased, astringing for mucous membranes, bitter tonic.

• Rhizoma Valerianae (Valerian or Valeriana):

  • Dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis.
  • Constituents: 1.4% volatile oil(bornyl isovalerianate), alkaloids (chatinine, valerianine), alcohols (valerianol), epoxy-iridoid esters like valepotriates and acevaltrate.
  • Uses: Reduce mental overactivity, and nervous excitability, a calming effect on the mind, useful for insomnia, helpful for shoulder and neck tension.

• Curcuma rhizome Turmeric:

  • Dried rhizomes of Curcuma domestica (C. longa).
  • Constituents: 1. Orange-yellow volatile oil (turmerone, zingiberene), 2. Yellow crystalline substance (curcumin), 3. starch, 4. resin. 5. sugar.
  • Uses: condiment, coloring agent, stimulant, carminative, anti-inflammatory agent, antioxidant, treatment of jaundice and hepatitis, antibacterial agent in topical application.

• Garlic:

  • Fresh or dehydrated cloves of Allium sativum.
  • Active constituents: Alliin (S-allyl-cysteine sulfoxide), S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, allylpropyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, etc,. enzymes (alliinase, peroxidase).
  • Uses: Remedy for some illnesses and infections, as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antimycotic effects, treating chest infections, coughs, and colds. Reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure.

• Onion:

  • Fleshy bulb of Allium cepa.
  • Active constituents: organic sulfur compounds (e.g., trans-S-(1-propenyl) cysteine sulfoxide, S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide, S-propyl cysteine sulfoxide), alliinase, thiopropanal S-oxide, propanthial S-oxide.
  • Uses: Antihypercholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, antifungal, antibiotic, and antiplatelet aggregation; also used as antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, stomachic, and anthelmintic

This quiz tests your knowledge about corms, specifically focusing on their characteristics, types, and medicinal properties. Dive into questions regarding Colchicum and Veratrum, as well as their uses in treating various conditions. Prepare to explore the fascinating world of plant anatomy and its applications in herbal medicine.