Abstract

ROLE OF ANATOMICAL STUDIES IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF ACTINODAPHNE HOOKERI MEISSN. OF FAMILY LAURACEAE

Siddhi Thakur and Dr. Meenakshi Vaidya*

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used throughout human history. Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn. (Family Lauraceae; local name: Pisa) is a medicinal plant commonly found in Mahableshwar and also in eastern part of India. Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. Certain conditions like diabetes, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, surgery, advanced age and conditions that affect personal care habits like Alzheimer’s disease increase the chances of developing urinary tract infections. Leaves of Actinodaphne hookeri are known to be diaphoretic, antipyretic and great for the treatment against dysentery. The developing seeds of A. hookeri are investigated to delineate their ability to synthesize large amounts of trilaurin. The present study shows that the leaves are hypostomatic and stomata are cyclocytic, anomocytic and tetracytic. The type of venation is Acrodromous, perfect, suprabasal. These characteristics could be useful in correct identification of the plant.

Keywords: Lauraceae, Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn., cyclocytic, tetracytic, Acrodromous.