Abstract

CHARACTERISATION OF ANATOIMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERS OF EUPHORBIA ANTISYPYLITICA: A PLANT OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL VALUE

*Shobha Johari and Ashwani Kumar

Abstract

Laticifers are highly specialized internal secretory system present in primitive and advanced taxa of angiosperms. These occur in the families Euphorbiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Convolvulaceae, Moraceae, Sapotaceae etc. In the family Euphorbiaceae Acalyphae, Crotonae, Euphorbieae, Hippomanae are important tribes, possessing laticifers. Two different types of laticifers have been reported in the family Euphorbiaceae articulated and non articulated. Both articulated and non articulated laticifer types may be anastomosing (branched) or non anastomosing (unbranched). Articulated laticifers are multicellular in origin whereas non articulated laticifers are unicellular in origin Articulated laticifers have been reported from phloem of stems and leaves of Hevea and Manihot. They have also been reported in the mesophyll, palisade and also in the cortical region of stem. Laticifers in the Ficus carica L. are of the branched non articulated type. Present studies were conducted on characterization of Euphorbia antisyphilitica a plants of traditional value.

Keywords: Euphorbia, Laticifers, Hydrocarbons, Traditional medicines, bio crude.