Microscopic Analysis of Plants

Abstract

Light microscopy is an important method for identity and purity control of biological crude drugs. This chapter gives an introduction in the necessary techniques starting with some background information of physical optics used in microscopy, and an instruction in the equipment being needed for accurate analyzes. Besides the technical knowhow, a detailed knowledge of plant anatomy is crucial for evaluating the identity and quality of botanical raw material. Without familiarity of histology, tissue elements and cell forms, a proper microscopic analyzes is impossible. Thus, a description of important anatomical structures is given, along with some guidance concerning the examination of crude drug materials and their preparation for microscopic analyzes: What are the standard criteria for the characterization of drugs? How can one recognize the correct type of the plant organ in hand? And how does one get accurate microscopic slides resp. pictures from the drug in question? These questions and others are attempted to be answered.