Adulteration in commercial kamila [mallotus philippinensis muell] an anthelmintic drug of repute

ABSTRACT

Kamila, chiefly known for its purgative and antihelmintic actions in indigenous system of medicine is botanically the red powdery mass covering the 3-lobed capsular fruits of Mallotus philippinensis Muell. [Family Euphorbiaceae]. Present communication, based on pharmacognostical and physicochemical studied deals with the standardization of commercial sample of drug. Some of the findings of the study such as high percentage of ash, low values of successive extractives and extreme deviation from its floating property on water reveal that this sample of Kamila is of very inferior quality. A very high yield of acid insolule ash further confirms the presence of ferruginous sand particles in the drug. The results in detail are discussed in the paper