Source

Obtained from
Plantago ovata
Plantaginaceae
Known as
P.afra Psyllium , Flea seed
P.indica French psyllium
P.ovata Blonde psyllium , Spogel seeds
Ispaghula , Indian plantago
seeds
 Cultivation & Collection
Well drained loamy soil , pH 7.5-8.5
Sown in Nov. by broadcasting method
Irrigated for about 7-8 times at intervals of
8-10 days
Nitrogenous fertilisers needed
Pest control done
Harvested in Mar /Apr
Cut just above ground level , dried ,
threshed & winnowed
 Description
Shape boat
Concave surface hilum present covered with
thin whitish membrane
Convex surface brown oval spot at center
When soaked in water it is surrounded by
mucilage due to swelling of seed coat
1 part of seed forms a thick jelly with 20 parts of
water
 Microscopy
Testa
Epidermis mucilage
Enosperm
Fixed oil ,proteins

Cotyledons ”
 Constituents
Mucilage
Chemically Mucilage Contains pentosan , Aldobionic
acid
On hydrolysis it gives D-xylose , L-arabinose , D-
galactose & D-galacturonic acid
Uses
In dysentery & chronic diarrhoea
Poultice
Mechanical laxative
Used alone or associated with Senna , cascara ,others
 Test
Ruthenium red pink
Swelling factor
1gm taken in a 25ml cylinder filled with
water upto 20ml mark , agitated gently &
occasionally during 24hr
Allowed to stand for 1hr
Volume occupied by the swollen seeds
indicates the swelling factor