Identification of the natural drug 'Biranjasaf' [Artemisia Nilagarica] A comparative Pharmacognostical study

ABSTRACT

Pharmacognostical studies have been carried out on the plant Artemisia nilagarica [Clarke] Pamp. synonym A. vulgaris Lin. [Family-Asteraceae] described as the correct and authentic source of the natural drug Biranjasaf, being used in Unani system of medicine as anti-inflammatory and deobstruent, along with a commercial sample of the natural drug procured from Aligarh market. The studies have revealed that the market sample does not have the characters of the plant Artemisia nilagarica. The two profoundly differ in their macro and microscopic characters, fluorescence behavriour under UV light, physico-chemical constants, successive extractive values and thin layer chromatographic patterns. The market sample has been provisionally identified as an entirely different taxon Stachys parvifora Benth [Family-Lamiaceae]. The studies carried out on the two samples along with a comparative account have been described in detail. Possibility of use of another plant Achillea millefalium L., usually available in the name of Biranjasaf has also been discussed