A Pharmacognostic evaluation of different species of Sariva Hemidesinus indicus (L.) R. Br., Cryptolepis buchananii Roem. Schult. and Ichnocarpusfrutescens (L.) R. Br.

Abstract

ffemide,s'niu.s indicus or true Sariva as it is known in ayurveda is the true medicinal plant supposed to be used in iiearly 50 different ayurveda drug preparations. Further this has become one of the ingredients in many other herbal products such as Sherbet and flavoring agents. The plant is neither cultivated in Sri Lanka nor India (from where the raw material is imported to Sri Lanka). Therefore, the entire demand is met with the plant material collected from the wild. Consequently there is a greater chance of the real material been adulterated or substituted by similar looking, cheaper material. Therefore, the present study was launched to carry out a complete pharmacognostic evaluation of H. indicus and its possible adulterants / substitutes available in Sri Lanka. Cyp/olepis Buchananii and Jchnocarpu.c frutescens which are collectively known as " Sariva" in ayurveda with the view of establish key diagnostic characters that would be used to screen crude drug material at the point of purchasing. Twenty five root samples per species selected form five district and fifty five market sample purchased from six districts were used for the study. Authentic voucher herbarium specimens were prepared and deposited in the institutional herbarium. Macroscopic evaluation of martial were carried out at following WHO