Pharmacognostic Studies and Skin Irritation Potential of an Ethnobotanically important Condiment Kasuri methi (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.)

Abstract

To ensure plant identification, set parameters of standardization that support and prevent adulteration and admixture, and to find out any possible skin irritation effect of crude extracts of plant parts of very commonly used condiment Kasuri methi, (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in Pakistan. For pharmacognostic research, various evaluations were done focusing on macroscopic and microscopic studies of the transversely cut section, peeled off the epidermis, and powdered stuff of different plant parts to observe the anatomical features of different types of cells, trichomes, stomata types, and vascular tissues. In dermatological studies, phytochemical analysis was carried out to find different constituents and properties of this plant. Simple, uniseriate, non-glandular trichomes, anisocytic or anomocytic stomata, tracheids with spiral to scalariform secondary’s wall thickening pattern, pitted vessels in stem and roots were commonly found both in sections and in powdered stuff. The phytochemical study showed the presence of saponins, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, and tannins. The skin irritation effect of crude extracts of leaves in n-Hexane and ethanol in roots were found both in causing skin irritation but slightly reddening the vessel. The skin irritant effect persists for 4 to 5 hours due to these crude extracts. The least skin irritation effect was exhibited by the crude extracts of roots in distilled water, thus resulting in the doubtful reaction of rabbit’s ear, these reactions could be due to the phytochemical found in the extracts. This research offers the scientific findings for the appropriate identification and establishment of standards for the use of Kasuri methi, (Trigonella foenum-graecum).