Pharmacognostical studies on Orchidaceae plants

Abstract

In order to estimate accurate originality of the important crude drugs, Gastrodia, Dendrobium, Bletilla and Cremastra spp. were investigated comparing their morphological, anatomical and physicochemical characteristics and antibacterial, antifungal activities. The results of the studies as follows: 1. In morphological and anatomical studies, Korean Gastrodia contained more mucilage duct and symbiotic fungi than imported Gastrodia. Korean Dendrobium contained starch grains but without starch grains in the imported Dendrobium from China enclosed with thicken silicified wall. The corm of Cremasta appendiculata contained raphides of bundles with mucilage while the bulbs of Tulipa edulis contained several various starch grains form. 2. In physiological and TLC analysis, crude drugs in Orchidaceae contained common constituents with fluorescence and much mucilage. 3. The EtOH extracts of Gastrodia, Dendrobium, Bletilla, Cremastra showed antibacterial activities againt B. subtilis and E. coli (Dendrobium > Gastrodia > Bletilla > Cremastra). But, no antifungal activities against C. albicans, A. niger were observed.