title: Pharmacognostic studies of insect gall of Quercus infectoria Olivier (Fagaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the detailed pharmacognostic profile of galls of Quercus infectoria Olivier (Q. infectoria olivier) (Fagaceae), an important medicinal plant used in the Indian system of medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of galls of Q. infectoria were studied by macroscopical, microscopical, physiochemical, phytochemical, fluorescence analysis and othjer methods for standardization as recommended by WHO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macroscopically, the crude drug is globose with horny appearances on external surface (1.4-2.3 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in diameter), with greyish-brown to brownish-black in colour externally and dark brown buff colored. Surface is smooth with numerous horny protuberances giving rough touch, and with unpleasant odour. Microscopically, a wide zone of radially elongated parenchyma cells between upper and lower epidermis were found. The vascular strands were present at all places and radially elongated sclerides touched the lower epidermis. In physico-chemical studies, the moisture, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble, water soluble, petroleum ether, chloroform extractive value and tannin content were found to be 2.790, 5.020, 0.110, 38.780, 41.210, 0.402, 1.590 and 49.200 percentage respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, tannins, saponins and alkaloids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this medicinally important plant drug material for future investigations and applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, SBMJC, Jain University, Bangalore-560002, India.
authors.forename: Savitri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Vasuki Srinivas
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: Ravi Shankara Birur
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Eshwarappa
authors.forename: Sundara Rajan
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Subaramaihha
authors.forename: Latha Muuaiah
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ramanna
authors.forename: Dhananjaya Bhadrapura
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lakkappa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007313:Insecta; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010941:Plant Tumors; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Gall extracts; Microscopic studies; Pharmacognostic study; Quercus infectoria; Traditional medicine