Detailed Macro-microscopic Atlas of Different Parts of a Folk Medicinal Plant Dioscorea oppositifolia L.

Introduction: Human being depends mainly on plants for his survival in all the aspect particularly for the food. From the beginning of civilization his interest to find new plant and its utility is a continuous process. One such plant is Dioscorea oppositifolia L. (Dioscoreaceae) found frequently in and around Udupi locally known as Kaadu genasu. The plant is large climber with numerous cylindrical tubers which are consumed as food as it is very nutritive and used as food during famine. On account of these utilities of this less explored plant material, a detailed pharmacognostical study including macro and microscopy was conducted. Methods: D. oppositifolia L. was subjected to macro and microscopic characterization employing standard methodology mentioned in pharmacopoeia and other herbal analysis protocols. Results: The Macro and microscopic studies of different parts of the plant viz. leaf petiole, lamina, stem,root and tubers were performed. Conclusion: The finding of the study will be helpful for the identification of the plant.