Plantago ovata (seed husk)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_ovata and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyllium_seed_husks, retrieved 02/27/2012).

Plantago ovata (Desert Indianwheat, Blond Psyllium; syn. Plantago brunnea Morris, Plantago fastigiata Morris, Plantago gooddingii A. Nels. & Kennedy, Plantago insularis Eastw., Plantago insularis Eastw. var. fastigiata (Morris) Jepson, Plantago insularis Eastw. var. scariosa (Morris) Jepson, Plantago minima A. Cunningham) is a medicinal plant native to Western Asia and Southern Asia.

It is a common source of psyllium seed husks, a material used as dietary fiber.

The plant can be found growing wild in the southwestern United States, where it is an introduced species.

Psyllium seed husks also known as ispaghula, isabgol, or psyllium, are portions of the seeds of the plant Plantago ovata, (genus Plantago), a native of India. They are hygroscopic (that is they absorb water expanding and become mucilaginous.

Psyllium seed husk are indigestible and are a source of soluble dietary fiber.

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Microscopic Entries

Epidermal cells of the husks in surface view containing mucilage observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.cellular structures identified in this botanical specimen are the epidermal cells of the husks in surface view containing mucilage and the parenchyma cells seen under polarized light when observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories

HPTLC Entries

Plantago ovata HPTLC ID - Vanillin/H2SO4 Reagent-> 110° C 5 min -> visible light Psyllium (husk) (Plantago ovata) Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample): 3 μL Arabinose~0.1% in CH3OH 3 μL Plantago ovata-1 (husk) 5 μL Plantago ovata-1 (husk) 4 μL Plantago ovata-2 (husk) 4 μL Plantago ovata-2 (husk) 5 μL Plantago ovata-3 (husk) 3 μL Plantago ovata-3 (husk) 3 μL Galactose~0.1% in CH3OH Reference materials used here have been authenticated by macroscopic, microscopic &/or TLC studies according to the reference source cited below held at Alkemists Laboratories, Costa Mesa, CA.  Stationary Phase Silica gel 60, F254, 10 x 10 cm HPTLC plates  Mobile Phase ethyl acetate: glacial acetic acid: methanol: water [6/1.5/1.5/1]  Sample Preparation Method 0.3g+3mL 70% grain EtOH sonicate/heat @~50° C ~ 1/2 hr  Detection Method Vanillin/H2SO4 Reagent-> 110° C 5 min -> visible light  Reference see Method Developed by Alkemists Laboratories Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories