comparative study of the aerial parts of punarnava [Trianthema portulacastrum Linn.] commonly used in traditional medicine and its adulterator boerhaavia diffusa Linn

ABSTRACT

The aerial part of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn, [white variety] is used in Unani Medicine to treat inflammation, asthma, dropsy, bronchitis, ascites, orchitis, and migraine. The practitioners of Ayurveda and Unani also employ it for diuretic action. Even involuntarily, Trianthema portulacastrum may be adulterated by Boerhaavia diffusa. The morphoanatomic features having diagnostic value for the identification of both species in their state of crude drug are evaluated. The important parameters are also studied as qualitative ash analysis for inorganic constituents, qualitative analysts of different extractives for organic chemical constituents, successive extractive values, thin layer chromatography of different extracts, total ash, acid insoluble and water soluble ash and their analysis have been performed