Pharmacognostical and Physicochemical Analysis of Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium Linn.) - Fruit

An attempt has been carried out in respect to the authenticity and assay of Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium Linn.) fruit. There is no information regarding the transverse section (T.S) microscopical study of Bhallataka fruit in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia and any other text. Present paper reports on pharmacognosy, physico-chemical parameters including the Thin Layer Chromatography of fruit. The result shows the presence of large oval lysigenous cavities, papillae with oil globule and lignified inner and outer layer of endoderm are the distinguishing features of fruits observed in T.S and L.S. Stone cells, fixed oil, oil globules, aleurone grains, papillae, trichomes, fibres are observed in the powder microscopy and these characters can be used as anatomical markers for the fruit. The Rf values of methanolic extractive of fruit showed the presence of different phenolic compounds, oil and fats in the fruits.