Macroscopic and Microscopic evaluation of Talamuli choorna (Powder of dried rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.)

Talamuli (Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.) is an important medicinal plant widely used in Ayurveda for its therapeutic properties. Proper identification and authentication of medicinal plant materials are essential to ensure their quality, purity, safety, and efficacy. Pharmacognostical evaluation, particularly macroscopic and microscopic examination, provides valuable diagnostic parameters for the identification of crude drugs and detection of adulteration or substitution. The present study aimed to evaluate the macroscopic and powder microscopic characteristics of Talamuli choorna and establish diagnostic parameters for its identification and authentication. Fresh rhizomes of Talamuli (Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.) were cleaned, dried, pulverised, and passed through mesh No. 85 to obtain Talamuli choorna. Macroscopic evaluation was performed based on colour, texture, odour, and taste. Powder microscopic examination was carried out using a compound microscope to identify characteristic cellular and tissue elements. Macroscopically, Talamuli choorna was light brown, fine, non-characteristically odorous, and slightly bitter. Powder microscopy revealed annular and spiral xylem vessels, abundant simple and compound starch grains, and parenchymatous cells associated with colourless mucilage. The study established characteristic macroscopic and microscopic features of Talamuli choorna, which may serve as preliminary diagnostic parameters for its identification, authentication, and quality standardization.