Pharmacognostic evaluation of the stem bark of balanites aegyptiaca delile "Hingot"

ABSTRACT

Balanites aegyptiaca [Hingot] is one of the important Kasthausadhi of Indian System of medicine, which is botanically identified as Balanites aegyptiaca of family Simaroubaceae. All the parts of this plant as well as its extracts are particularly useful to mankind. According to Ayurvedic concept it is pungent bitter, purgative, anthelmintic and is useful in cough and colic, ulcer as well as in hypertension. Chemically it contains a lot of saponins whose concentration varies in different parts of the plant. The present paper deals with its literature survey regarding distribution, cultivation, chemical information, and medicinal importance. The detailed botanical and pharmacognostical parameters have been performed on the stem bark, for the identification of the genuine sample, detection of the adulteration in the market sample and study of the quality control parameters of the drug