Correlation Between The Levels Of Irritation And Ultrastructure Density, And Size Of Raphid Calcium Oxalate Crystals In The Corms Of Edible Araceae Species

Abstract: Research on the correlation between the levels of irritation and ultrastructure, density and size of raphid calcium oxalate crystals in the corms of edible Araceae species had been carried out. Corms of senthe, suweg, kimpul and bentul were used as materials of this research. Organoleptic test for the levels of irritation were done using 40 respondents. The slides of raphid crystals were prepared using parafin methods. The density and the size of raphid crystals were observed under light microscope. Ultrastructure of raphid crystals were prepared using modified parafin method and obseved under scanning electron microscope. Density and size of raphid crystals were counted ten times in defferent area with five replicates. The results and analysis show that there were correlation between the levels of irritation and the density, and the ultrastructure of raphid crystals but there was no corellation with the size of raphid crystals. Scanning electron microscope investigation found that the cells of senthe corm were dominated by raphid crystals but the cell of kimpul and bentul corms were dominated by starch grains. Very sharp and sharp raphid crystals were found in senthe and suweg corm respectively. Moreover, bentul and kimpul corms contain blunt end raphid crystals. Keywords:raphid crystals, senthe, sinveg, bentuland kimpul