Fruits (Introduction+Fennel)

By:
Mahmoud Sallam
DemonstratorofPharmacognosy
FacultyofPharmacy,
Al-AzharUniversity

Items
Introductionto fruits:
 Definition.
 Function.
 Classification.
Umbelliferae fruits:
 Fennel.

Fruits
 Definition:
• The fruit is the developed and ripened ovary or ovaries
of a single flower or whole inflorescence.
Ovary develops into a Fruit.
Ovary wall develops into a Pericarp
Ovule develops into a Seed.
 Function:
• Protection for the seed.
• Nourishing the seed during development.
• Insurance of seed distribution when mature.

Remember !!!
 Gynoecium = Pistil = Female
reproductive part.
 Syncarpous = Multiple carpels
"fused" into a single structure.
 Apocarpous = multiple" distinct,
free, unfused" carpels.

Structure of the fruit
The fruit consists of a swollen modified ovary wall, known as
the pericarp, enclosing the seeds arranged on the placenta.
 The pericarp consists of:
1. Epicarp (exocarp): outer layer
2. Mesocarp: middle tissue
3. Endocarp: inner most part.
 In a peach, the skin is the
exocarp, the yellow flesh is the
mesocarp, while the stone
surrounding the seed
represents the endocarp.

Classification of fruits:
FalseTrue
 Derived from the gynoecium +
other floral parts.
 E.g. pomes (apple, pear .. etc.)
 Derived from the gynoecium
only.
 E.g. Mango.
Epicarp
Mesocarp
Endocarp
Pericarp
Pericarp
Fleshy Receptacle
(Hypanthium)

= From single flower with
a single or Syncarpous ovary.
= From single flower with
Apocarpous ovary.
= From the whole inflorescence .

(dry pericarp)
(fleshy pericarp)

= splits open
when ripe.
= does not
split open
when ripe.
= bi- or
multilocular
fruit, splits
into one-seed
indehiscent
parts.

 Follicle: monocarpellary splits along one side only .

 Legume: Monocarpellary splits along the two sides.
e.g.
Leguminosae

 Siliqua: splits by two valves from base to apex,
and contains false septum which is outgrowth
from placenta
False
septum
e.g.
Mustard fruits

 Capsule: formed of 2 or more carpels, splits by
different ways.
1. Valves a. septicidal b. Loculicidal c. Septifragal.
2. Lid.
3. pores.

Septicidal =
Splits along the middle septa
(e.g. Linseed fruit)
Loculicidal =
Splits along the middle line
of each locule
(e.g. cardamom)
Septifragal =
as previous but the seeds
remains attached to the
central axis
(e.g. Datura)

 Achene: Monocarpellary the pericarp
membranous and free from the testa i.e. not
fused with it.
e.g.
Strawberry
(aggregate of
achenes).

 Grain:Monocarpellary the pericarp
membranous but fused with the testa.
e.g.
Graminaceous
fruits

 Nut: Similar to achene but pericarp is hard and
woody.
e.g.
Hazel nut.

 Cypsela: Bicarpellary, unilocular one-seeded
fruit.
e.g.
Compositae
fruits.

 Samara:winged one-seeded fruit.

Schizocarpic
• They have dry pericarp.
• As they ripen, they split up into a number
of one-seeded, indehiscent parts called
mericarps.

 Cremocarp:
 Bicarpellary bilocular splits longitudinally
into two one-seeded mericarps.
e.g.
Umbelliferae
fruits

Classification offruits:
Succulent =
• These fruits have part or most of the pericarp formed
of a fleshy tissue.

 Drupe:
 Epicarp: leathery.
 Mesocarp: fleshy.
 Endocarp: hard & woody enclosing single
seed.
e.g.
olive, apricot, peach, mango.

 Berry:
 Pericarp: is entirely fleshy (endocarp is
neither hard nor lignified).
e.g.
Citrus fruits, tomato.

 Aggregate (Etaerio) of achenes.
e.g.
Strawberry.

 Aggregate (Etaerio) of Follicles.
e.g.
star anise.

 Strobile: A fruit derived from a scaly inflorescence called strobile.
e.g.
Hops.

 Sorosis: Derived from a spike or spadex inflorescence, with fleshy
axis in which the fruits are embedded..
e.g.
Pineapple .

 Syconus: Succulent hollow receptacle enclosing achene-like
fruits.
e.g.
Figs.

Umbelliferous fruits
 General Characters:
1. Umbelliferous fruits are schizocarpic fruits (cremocarps) each
cremocarp split longitudinally into two one-seeded mericarps
attached to carpophore.
2. The apex of fruits is crowned with conical structure named
stylopod (represent the remains of the style, stigma, and
nectary disc).

3. The mericarp is characterized by:
A. Each mericarp has a flat surface (commissural or ventral
surface), and a rounded surface (dorsal surface).
B. The surface of each mericarp is characterized by the
presence of five 1ry ridges (over vascular bundles) and six
2ry ridges (over vittae).
C. Under each 1ry ridge → a bicollateral v.b. is present.
D. Under each 2ry ridge → a schizogenous duct (vitta) is
located.
4. The seed is endospermic (albuminous) and derived from
anatropous ovule. Endosperm is oily. Embryo is small and
apical

Origin: It is dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare.
Family: Umbelliferae (Apiaceae).

Macroscopical Characters:
 Cremocarp → two mericarp, bifid stylopod.
 Mericarps → straight or slightly curved, showing 5 prominent
1ry ridges.
 Size: 7-10 mm long.
 Colour: greenish yellow or greenish brown.
 Odour: aromatic.
 Taste: aromatic and sweet.
Sp= stylopod, v= vitta, cp= carpophore, emb= embryo, ra= raphe, t= testa,
e= endosperm, per= pericarp.

Microscopical Characters:
 Epicarp: straight-walled cells, smooth cuticle, occasional
anisocytic stomata.
 Mesocarp: reticulated parenchyma, 6 vittae, 5 collateral
vascular bundles.
 Endocarp: typical parquetry arrangement.

M.D.E (main Diagnostic Elements):
1. Reticulate parenchyma of the mesocarp [B] composed of
ovoid or elongated, sub-rectangular cells; the walls are
thickened and lignified and have conspicuous oval or
rounded pits.
2. Fragments of vittae: numerous brown fragments composed
of thin-walled cells, polygonal in surface view.
3. Fragments of a reticulately thickened vessel.
4. Fragments of Endocarp in surface view [K, A], showing
typical parquetry arrangement. Sometimes accompanied
by the inner layer of the mesocarp [Aa].
5. Fragments of endosperm [F] containing aleurone grains [Fb]
with micro-rosettes of calcium oxalate [Fa].
6. Fragments of the epicarp with stomata accompanied by oil
droplets [C]; very numerous oil droplets [J].
7. Numerous fibre bundles [G] from the ridges [Ga]

Active constituents:
1. Volatile oil: anethole, fenchone and estragol (methyl chavicol).
2. Flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetin, iso-quercetin and rutin.
Uses and action
1. Flavoring agent.
2. Carminative.
3. Mild expectorant.

Fruits (Introduction+Fennel)

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