亚洲传统医药

Abstract: Tagara is an important drug used in Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of several diseases. The accepted botanical source of Tagara is Valeriana jatamasni Jones, while different species of Nymphoides and Cryptocoryne spiralis are used in the name of Tagara in South India. The pharmacognostical evaluation of the root and rhizome of C. spiralis, a potential alternative source for Tagara is presented in this paper. The study includes the morphology of the plant, macro-, microscopical and diagnostic characters of the root and rhizome, the part which is used for medicinal purposes. Important details like the macerate elements, histochemical and UVstudies, physico-chemical constants, phytochemical analysis and HPTLC finger print are presented, all of which will be useful in the standardization of this drug and also to isolate biomarker compounds. The distinguishing characters between C. spiralis and V. jatamansi are also discussed to distinguish the two taxa.

Key words: pharmacognosy, cryptocoryne spiralis, root, rhizome, hptlc studies, Tagara