Comparative morphology and microscopy of eight commercially traded spice fruits of Apiaceae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Herbs and fruits of Apiaceae are used in various traditional medicinal systems for treating various aiilments. They also play an important role in Ayurvedic preparations as active ingredients. Most of these fruits are grown as commercial crops and used as spices. With a high demand for these fruits, there are instances of adulteration and admixture of one to another because of their similarity in appearance. The practice of adulteration may cause variations in the quality of traditional or industrial herbal preparations. Hence, this study focused on differentiating eight closely related and commercially traded Apiaceae fruits through macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. METHODS: Authentic samples of eight commercially traded species were collected from commercial suppliers or taxonomically identified plants. The fruits were tested for macroscopic structures, such as length, size, and microscopic structures, through anatomy, vittae isolation, and sclereids characterization and documenting their similarities and differences. RESULTS: The variations with respect to the vittae lengths and number; and sclereids patterns were identified among the eight studies fruits of Apiaceae, and a dichotomous key is derived based on macroscopy and microscopy for their precise identification. CONCLUSIONS: This study described organoleptic, macroscopic and microscopic characters, especially considering the vittae and sclereids characters of eight commercially traded spice fruits of the family Apiaceae and differentiated them through a dichotomous key which is helpful for their easy and precise identification.