Detailed Micromorphological and Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Dadima Fruit (Punica Granatum)

Dadima (Pomegranate) is one of the most frequently used drug as a part of medicine and food in Ayurved having varied effects on the human body. Dadima is used in Mukharoga (diseases of mouth), Shukra daurbalya (sexual debility), Samanya daurbalya (general debility), Aruchi (tastelessness), Amlapitta (acidity), etc. and is having effects like Daha shamaka (reduces burning sensation), Jwaraghna (antipyretic), Shukrala (increases semen), Pachana (digestive), Balya (general tonic) and Medhya (brain tonic). Till date the detailed pharmacognostical aspects of Dadima i.e its fruit bark, false septa, seed, powder microscopy including its histochemical evaluation was not found reported systematically. The present study was conducted on the fruit of Dadima (Punica granatum Linn.) for its pharmacognostical characters. The microscopic characters of the fruit show epidermis covered with thick cuticle, single layered epicarp, paranchyma cells filled with prismatic crystals, simple and compound starch grains and oil globules, well developed parenchymatous cells, fibres, schleroids, stone cells, prismatic crystals etc.