IntroductionTo

Medicinal Fruits

Introduction to Medicinal FruitsDefinition:• They are developed and ripened ovary or ovaries

of a single flower or a group of flowers.• In false fruits, other floral parts are included with

gynaecium.Functions:1- Protection of seeds.2- Ensures the distribution of seeds.3- Nourishment of seeds.

Surface:- Smooth (Capsicum), hairy (Anise), ridged (Umbelliferous fruits)…..etc.

Histology:- The fruit wall is called pericarp that divides to:

1- Epicarp:• Thin or membranous (Tomato), thick and hard (Colocynth).• Formed of a single layer or accompanied by one

or more modified hypodermal layers (Colocynth).• It may contain ca ox crystals (Coriander).

2- Mesocarp:• Parenchymatous containing vascular bundles and

secretory structures (Umbelliferous fruits).

3- Endocarp:• Thin or thick and hard, formed of either a single

layer or accompanied by hypodermal layers.

Fruit Layers2 -Epicarp (Ectocarp or Exocarp).

3 -Mesocarp.4 -Endocarp.

5 -Placenta.6 -Seed stalk.

7 -Seeds.

Kinds of Fruits

True:• Originate

from gynaecium of a single flower or inflorescence.

False:• Originate from

gynaecium together with other floral parts which modify to form the main part of the fruit (e.g. Apple).

• Fruits are divided according to: 1- Origin. 2- Number of carpels. 3- Nature of the pericarp.

False Fruits

I-True Fruits1- Simple:Formed from a single or a syncarpous gynaecium.

2- Aggregate:Developed from apocarpous gynaecium of a single flowere.g. Star-anise

3- Composite:Formed from the whole inflorescence

1- Simple True Fruits

A- Succulent:• With fleshy pericarp• Classified into:1- Drupe.2- Berry.

B- Dry:• With Dry pericarp• Classified into:1- Dehiscent.2- Indehiscent.3- Schizocarpic.

A- Succulent Simple True Fruits

1- Drupe:1- Fleshy mesocarp.2- Hard endocarp.3- One seeded.Examples:Apricot

Black pepper.

2- Berry:1- Fleshy mesocarp.2- Leathery endocarp.3- Many seeded.Example:Capsicum

B- Dry Simple True Fruits

1- Dehiscent:- Split open

on ripening to disperse seeds

i- Follicle.ii- Legume.iii- Siliqua.iv- Capsule

2- Indehiscent:- Don’t split ,open on ripening.i- Achene.ii- Caryopsis.iii- Cypsela.iv- Samara.v- Nut.

3-Schizocarpic: - Many seeded multilocular fruits. - on ripening, split into closed one seeded indehiscent parts.

1 -Dehiscent Fruits

i- Follicle:1- From monocarpell- ary ovary.2- Split along one side (ventral suture)

ii- Legume (Pod):1- From monocarpell- ary ovary.2- Split along both ventral and dorsal sutures.

iii- Siliqua:1- From monocarp., bilocular ovary.2- Split from base to apex.3- The seeds are attached to the replum.

iv- Capsule• Formed from syncarpous gynaecium. • Split into valves by diferent methods:1- Septicidal (through ventral sutures).2- Loculicidal (through dorsal sutures).3- Septifragal (similar to 1 and 2 but seeds are left

attached to the central axis.

septifragal

2 -Insdehiscent Fruits

i- Achene:• From monocarp.,

uniloc., sup. Ovary.• Membranous

pericarp, not fused with testa.

ii- Caryopsis:• Similar to achene but pericarp is fused with testa.

2 -Insdehiscent Fruits

iii- Cypsela:• From bicarp., uniloc. inf. Ovary.• Pericarp and testa are not fused.

iv- Samara:* From monocarp., uniloc. Ovary.• With

membranous

wings.

v- Nut:• From monocarp., uniloc. Ovary.• With woody pericarp.

Study of Some Important Medicinal Fruits

The Members of Family Umbelliferae

1- Fennel2- Anise3- Coriander4- Caraway5- Dill6- Cumin

7- Ammi visnaga8- Ammi majus

1- Fennel fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Family; Umbelliferae -Pleasant taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries

Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Anethole, Fenchone )

2- Flavonoids 3- Protein 4- Fixed oils

Anethole: distinctive odour & taste.Fenchone: pungent odour & bitter taste.

OCH3

O

FenchoneAnethole

Therapeutic uses 1- Fennel is used as carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of

GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ), Expectorant ( in cases of productive cough ).

- Also used as flavouring agent 2-Fennel Ext. has Antihypertensive action3- Fennel oil has Antioxidant Effect.4- Unproven folk-uses: In India, used as Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Lactogogue

( to increase the milk secretion)

2- Anise (Aniseed ) fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Bimpinella anisum Family; Umbelliferae- It has Aromatic taste and odour- Fruits with Hairy surfaceGeographical source- Mediterranean countries

.

Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( 90 % Anethole )Therapeutic uses 1- Anise is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of

GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ) 2- Other uses:A- Anise oil is effective in treatment of head-lice due to

v.oils action (research, 1996).B- Some folk uses: - Lactagogue, Expectorant, to facilitate birth (unproven effects). Adulterants of Anise- Conium fruits (Hemlock) and Henbane seeds are

the major adulterants of Anise.

3- Coriander fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Coriandrum sativum Family; Umbelliferae - It has Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries

Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Coriandrol, Linalool, Linalool acetate )

Therapeutic uses 1- Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of GIT

disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence )2- It is used in cosmetics industry (perfumes and soap).3- AS spicy.

N.B.

1- Fennel, Anise and Coriander oils have estrogen like compouds, therefore they effective in reliving symptoms which with premenstrual syndrome, menopause and menstrual cycle.

2- Patients with estrogen dependant tumors such as breast or ovarian cancer should not used oils with estrogen like compounds as fennel, anise and coriander oils.

4- Caraway fruits Origin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Carum carvi Family; Umbelliferae- It has Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries

Active constituents 1- Volatile oils

(Carveol, Carvone, Dihydrocarvone )Therapeutic uses

1 -Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases of GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence )

specially with infants 2 -Unproven folk uses:

a- Lactagogue. b- Emmenagogue ( To induce menstruation in cases of

menstrual cycle disorder.) c - For treatment of sore throat.

d- As Appetizer For treatment of Anorexia ( appetite loss).

5- Dill fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Anethum graveolens Family; Umbelliferae- Aromatic taste and odourActive constituents - Volatile oils ( Carvone) Therapeutic uses The same uses of Caraway

6- Cumin fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Cuminum cyminum Family; Umbelliferae- Cumin fruits has hairy surface with Aromatic taste and odourGeographical source - Mediterranean countries

Active constituents 1- Volatile oils ( Cuminaldehyde)

Therapeutic uses 1- Coriander is used as Carminative, Antispasmodic ( in cases

of GIT disorder as ( Dyspepsia, Flatulence ) specially with infants

2- As Spicy

7- Ammi visnaga fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Ammi visnaga Family; Umbelliferae- Odourless with Bitter tasteGeographical source - Egyptian plant.

Active constituents - Furanochromones ( Derivative of 5,6-benzo-4-pyrone

( Visnagin, Khellin, Khellol, Khellolglucoside

Therapeutic uses 1- Antispasmodic ( GIT, Renal spasms due to it’s Smooth muscle relaxant 2- Act as Coronary vasodilator so it is used in ttt Angina pectoris attacks 3- Act as Bronchodilator so used in ttt Bronchial asthma attacks 4- Act as Smooth muscle relaxant so, It is used in ttt of Renal calculi ( facilitate the passage of renal calculi from the ureters )

Contraindications of A. visnaga1- May cause photodermatitis in sensitive

individuals.2- Pregnancy due to emmenagogue and uterine

stimulating activity of khellin .

8- Ammi majus fruitsOrigin: -It is the dried ripe fruits of Ammi majus Family; Umbelliferae- Odourless with Pungent taste Geographical source - Egyptian plant..

Active constituents 1- Furanocoumarine

(Derivative of 5,6-benzo-2-pyrone ) ( Psoralen, Bergapten )

R= H Psoralen R= OCH3 Bergapten

Therapeutic uses 1- It is used in ttt Leukoderma ( Vitiligo ) - This form of therapy based on the joint action of medicine and irradiation is called photochemotherapy

O O

R

O

Vitiligo treatment: Before (left), During (middle) & After (right)

- A disorder of skin pigmentation characterized by widening areas of

depigmented skin.- It’s associated with local destruction of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin to darken the skin).-There are theories suggesting autoimmune link, hormonal connection, genetic tendencies, etc.