An identity based pharmacognostical profile of folium Annona squamosa

The leaves of Annona squamosa Linn. (Annonaceae), commonly called as custard apple, are popularly used for the treatment of diabetes by various tribes in India. The leaves are also used for their powerful insecticidal activity, especially for destroying lice. This paper presents a detailed pharmacognostical study of the crude drug, folium Annona squamosa. The samples were studied using procedures of light, confocal microscopy, WHO recommended physico-chemical determinations and authentic phytochemical procedures. The physicochemical, morphological and histological parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of Annona squamosa leaf and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its adulterants.