Psyllium Seeds

Psyllium seeds are Agri-Farm product of the dried ripe seeds of Plantago ovata forks (family: Plantaginaceae) and it has been cleaned, and free of all heavy and light extraneous matter (such as sand, dust, stones, iron particles, mud and other fibers) (USP Monographs: Plantago Seeds, 2007).

It a low herbaceous annual plant native to Iran and India, extensively cultivated there and in other countries, including Pakistan (WHO, 1999).

Psyllium seeds are broadly elliptical to ovate, boat-shaped, from 2 to 3.5 mm in length and from 1 to 1.5 mm in width. It is pale brown to moderate brown with a dull surface, the convex surface having a small, elongated, glossy brown spot. The concave surface has a deep cavity, in the centre of the base of which occurs a hilum covered with a thin membrane (WHO, 1999).