Illicium Verum

➔CMU. J. Nat. Sci. (2010) Vol. 9(1)

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Pharmacognostic Characterization of Illicium verum Hk. f. for Dental Application
Somporn Putiyanan*, Siriporn Okonogi and Wannaree Charoensup Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand *Corresponding author. E-mail: somporn@pharmacy.cmu.ac.th ABSTRACT Illicium verum Hk. f. (Illiciaceae), well-known in Thailand as “Chan paetkleep”, has been used as food flavor and Thai traditional medicine. It possesses strong antibacterial activity, particularly against pathogens in tooth cavity. The dried powder of this plant distributed locally has always been contaminated with some other plants. Hence, the knowledge on pharmacognostic characters is necessary for quality control of its raw material. The aim of this study is toidentify I. verum Hk. f. as standard voucher specimen. The macroscopic results showed that its fruits formed woody follicles arranged in radiate whorl around short central column with short pedicel. Outer surface was reddish brown while inner surface was pale yellowish-brown and shiny. Seeds were compressed-ovoid, shiny, smooth and brown. Microscopic characters revealed that the dried fruit powdershowed sclerenchyma fiber, elongated, thick-walled cell with simple to slightly-branched pore canals; stone cells with thick walls, reddish-brown parenchyma of mesocarp; thin-walled cells of endocarp; thickened, porous walls of pericarp (epidermis) etc. similar to microscopic description of transverse section of the fruit. These results established the standard characters of I. verum Hk. f. forquality control of the plant material prior to further experiment in formulation development for dental application. Key words : Illicium verum, Star Anise, Pharmacognostic, Dental Application INTRODUCTION Illicium verum Hk. f. (Illiciaceae) is well-known in Thailand as “Chan paet kleep”. Fragrant wood is used for houses, pillars and furniture as well as fruit, leaves and seeds which have essentialoil are used in Thai traditional medicine, for example, stimulant, carminative and spices (Backer et al., 1963). This study focused on using Chan paet kleep fruits which are valuable adding for innovative and alternative ingredient of this plant for dental applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Illicium verum Hk.f. were collected and identified (Gagnepain, 1938; Nguyen et al., 1996; Putiyanan, 2004)as voucher specimen and standardized for phar-

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➔ CMU. J. Nat. Sci. (2010) Vol. 9(1)

macognostic characters for quality controlling of material before the formulation process. Chan paet kleep were identified by the method of taxonomic identification as authenticated specimen and pharmacognostic identification. Collect enough samples for studies in antimicrobial activities to furtherexperiment in formulation development for dental application. RESULTS Taxonomic Identification Herbarium specimen of Chan paet kleep was identified by taxonomic evaluation and deposited in the medicinal plant herbarium, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University for authenticated specimen (voucher specimen). Description of species Illicium verum Hk.f. (Nguyen et al., 1996) A small tree, 6-8 m inheight, bark grey-brown, branchlets green, glabrous; crown conical to globose. All parts of tree have an agreeable aromatic smell. Leaves simple, usually clustered at branch-tips. Leaves entire, oval, tapering towards both ends, apex acute, base cuneate. Leaf-blade thick and brittle, dark green above, paler beneath, petiole glabrous. Flowers pink-white, solitary and axillary, pedicel stout and short.Sepals 6, pink at margin, petals 16-20, broadelliptic, smaller than sepals, white outside, red inside, dark red at the middle of flower. Stamens numerous, shorter than petals, anther elliptic. Carpels 8, forming a conical mass, spreading into a rosette when ripe. Fruit consists of 8 follicles, spreading, woody and brown when mature, dehiscent by the ventral side. Seed solitary in each follicle,...