| Abstract: |
Crinum augustum roxog(F. Amaryllidaceae)is Aperrennial herb showing tunicated bulb attaining up to 150 cmin hight .it propagates slowly by offsets and does not seed.it is cultivated in publiv and private gardens.in Egypt.It flowers in September till the end of April. the family Axaaryllidaceae. It includes about 100 species distributed in the World and is <:‘esented in Egypt by 13 species. With the exception oftaxononic oharactez’s of Crinum augustum Roxbg. and Crinum ricanum I,; nothing could be traced in the literature arding their constituents. In addition, literature rvey showed that, mayum species other than the above mentioned two species, occupied a prominent possition in therapeutic medicine.In India, ‘anganika and South America, some Crinum species are used in folklore medicine, for skin diseases, rheumatism, haenorroids, rheumatic fever, syphilis also as expectorant, purgative, diuretic and as squill substitute, !oreover, the presence of many physiolorica11y active principles were reported,In the light of the above medicinal importanoes, and since nowadays, the trend in A.R.S. is to study and inves— tigate the natural wealth of the country, amongst which, medicinal plants are included, it was thought necessary to carry a pharmacognostical study on Crinum austum Roxbg. and Crinuxa aniericanum L. cultivated in Egypt.This work has been planned to study g potentiaflities of finding new constituents which may be of importance, for making use of the plants as drugs.The different organs of the two plants were invostig— ated botanically and chemically and the results and conclusion can be suiimerized as follows :Botanical Sti&y of Crinumaugustum Roxb. and drinum.americanum I,.Section A— Botanical Sudr of Crinumaustuxi Rozbg.I— The Macromorpho1oyCrinuna ustum Roxbg. (F. Amar4yllidaceae) is a pere— miial herb howin tunicated. bu1b attaining up to 150 cm in height. It propagates slowly by offsets and. does not seed. It is cultivated in public and private gardens. In ypt, it flowers in Septamber till the end of April.are numerousi fibrous,eylindrical, fleshy and soft; up to 35 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter. They are grey to pale yellow , have slight odour and znucila.genous bitter taste.The Bulb is large single tunicatd and conical in shape, and may attain 50 cm. long and 20 ciii in diameter, outer tunics are grey to dark pink in colour, inner tunics are white and have slight odour and mucilagenous bitter [taste.The Fo1iQgLeaves are simple, sessile, strap—shaped deeply—channeled laxaina, have entire margin and acute apex, up to 150 eni long and 15 cm .wide, have olive green to dark green colour, vennation is parallel and having no odour but bitter mucilagenous taste.The Inflorescence ; is a termenal 2—bracted unibel carried on a solid stout greenish scape which may attain 100 cm long and 1+ cm in diameter. It carries about 25 wine red flowers protected by two large spathaceous bracts and. each is subtended by sessile bracteole.
|
|
|