Indian Herbal Drug Microscopy

Book excerpt: Adulteration and misidentification of herbal drugs can cause serious health problems to consumers. The first step in quality control of medicinal plants is ensuring the authenticity of the desired species for intended use, with anatomical study playing a critical role in identifying and authenticating medicinal plants. A product of numerous years of experience and research, Indian Herbal Drug Microscopy is a vital resource for identifying and evaluating Indian medicinal plants. Comprised of four concise and comprehensive chapters, the book presents stepwise procedures for sectioning of plant material, histo-chemical staining techniques, and the anatomy of forty well-known and medicinally important plants, including Arjuna, Ashoka, Ashwagandha, Cinchona, Cinnamon, Ginger, Kurchi, Rauwolfia, Turmeric, Tulsi, and Vasaka. The book is also supplemented with color photographs and hand-drawn microscopic images. Written by authorities in the field, Indian Herbal Drug Microscopy is a valuable guide for herbal drug microscopy of Indian medicinal plants.