KAMALA (NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN.) THROUGH THE LENS OF PHARMACOGNOSY: CORRELATING CLASSICAL AYURVEDIC LITERATURE WITH ANATOMICAL EVIDENCE

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Kamala), a member of the family Nelumbonaceae, is a perennial aquatic herb extensively documented in classical Ayurvedic literature, including the works of Acharya Charaka, Acharya Sushruta, and Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, where its flowers, seeds, rhizome, and stalk are recognized for diverse therapeutic applications. The present study was undertaken to characterize the macroscopic and microscopic anatomical features of the peduncle of N. nucifera, generating reliable diagnostic markers for its standardization. Fresh, healthy peduncle samples were collected from natural aquatic habitats and evaluated organoleptically. Thin transverse sections were hand-cut using sharp blades, stained with 1% aqueous safranin, and examined microscopically at 10x and 40x magnification. Macroscopic assessment showed a green to greyish-green, cylindrical, rough-surfaced peduncle with a characteristic odour and mildly astringent taste. Anatomical examination revealed a compact single-layered epidermis covered by cuticle, an underlying parenchymatous hypodermis, and a broad ground tissue dominated by prominent aerenchyma comprising large, rounded to irregular air cavities separated by parenchymatous septa. Numerous vascular bundles containing xylem and phloem elements were distributed throughout the ground tissue, along with sclerenchymatous fibres and a central parenchymatous pith. The extensive aerenchymatous system was identified as a key structural adaptation facilitating internal aeration and buoyancy in the aquatic environment. These findings establish anatomical evaluation as a dependable tool for authenticating Nelumbo nucifera, particularly when morphological identification is limited by processing. Further molecular approaches, such as DNA barcoding, are recommended to complement these findings for comprehensive drug standardization.