Introduction: Trikatu Churna is an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation useful in wide range of diseases and disorders. Efficacy of formulation depends on their genuineness of herbs used. Authentication of herbs by anatomical studies is first and fundamental step for standardization of herbal formulation. In this paper Pharmacognostic investigations like macroscopic, microscopic and chemical studies like preliminary phytochemical, physico-chemical constants and TLC/HPTLC fingerprint of Trikatu Churna were studied. Methods: The standard methods recommended in Quality Control Methods for Medicinal Plant Materials by WHO, 1998 was followed. Results: Macro-microscopic, preliminary phyto-chemical studies and TLC/HPTLC studies of the formulation has been documented. Conclusion: Findings of the study is helpful in standardization of polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation Trikatu Churna, which will promote global acceptance of the formulation and reputation of the Ayurveda system.

Background: Santalum album L. (Fam. Santalaceae) is a small evergreen tree distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, especially in Mysore and Tamil Nadu. The heartwood is highly prized and medicinally useful; Santalum album is one of the ingredients in many Ayurvedic and Siddha formulations. Objective: The present study brings out macromicroscopic atlas on heartwood of medicinal plant Santalum album L. Materials and Methods: Sections and powder were observed and photographed under different magnifications with the help of Olympus BX51 Microscopic unit fitted with Olympus Camera. Results: Macroscopically odour and taste, microscopically tyloses, fibres, tailed pitted vessels, uni and biseriate medullary rays, brownish content and oil globules are the unique diagnostic characters reported. Conclusion: The finding of the present study is believed to be helpful in identifying the correct botanical source of the plant in crude form and also standardization of herbal formulation containing sandalwood as ingredient.

Background: Adulteration and substitution of Nagakesara is a well-established fact in the medicinal plant literature though it is referred by the authors of important Ayurvedic texts to cure piles, dysentery, hiccup etc. The botanical identities of controversial sources of Nagakesara are flowers of Mesua ferrea L. and Ochrocarpus longifolius Benth. and Hook. f., Calophyllum inophyllum L., Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. and perchance their allied species. Though immature fruits of some Cinnamomum species are also reported to be sold as Nagakesara/Sirunagappu in the crude drug markets there are no pharmacognostic studies available for the identification and analysis of this crude drug. Materials and Methods: In this study, marketed Nagakesara/ Sirunagappu samples were procured from Chennai raw drug market and analyzed as per the standard methodologies for pharmacognostic studies. Results: Macro-microscopical characters and chemical identity of the samples of immature fruits were established to derive set of characters for the identification of this marketed material. The proposed results would help in identification of this crude drug while used as substitute drug for the official source. Conclusion: The botanical Nagakesara or Sirunagappu is neither stamen nor flower, but it is fruit of Cinnamomum species. As Western Ghats is habitat for several similar looking species of Cinnamomum, there is necessity to study the pharmacognostical characters of all species of Cinnamomum before concluding the botanical source of this ambiguous raw drug of Ayurveda and Siddha.

The stem bark of the plant Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, Fam. Symplocaceae is extensively used in Indian medicine under the names of Lodhra/Patikalodhra. S. crataegoides is a deciduous shrub or a tree, distributed in the Himalayas from Punjab to Assam, Khasi hills and Burma. 1,2 As per Ayurvedic references the term Lodhra denotes the stem bark of Symplocos racemosa/Symplocos crataegoides and considered as most useful remedy for uterine complaints, vaginal and menstrual disorders. In Sanskrit the name Lodhra means that it stops ocular discharges. The drug is useful in digestive disorders, eye diseases and ulcers. Decoction of the bark is used as a gargle in bleeding gums. Its astringent property is utilized for curing loose motions. It is used as aphrodisiac, useful in dropsy, elephantiasis and in fat in urine (Lipiduria). The bark is used in the treatment of opthalmia, tonic and to prevent abortion. 1,3-7 The important Ayurvedic formulations in which Lodhra is used as one of the ingredients are Lodhrasavam, Gandhatailam, Dasamularistam, Draksadi kasayam, Pusyanugacurnam, etc. 8 The Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna contains both Symplocos racemosa and Symplocos GC-MS Analysis of n-hexane Extract of Stem Bark of Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don ABSTRACT Context: The stem barks of the plant Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don (syn. Symplocos paniculata (Thunb.) Miq.), Fam. Symplocaceae is extensively used in Indian medicine under the names of Lodhra/Patikalodhra. Mainly it is used to cure uterine complaints, vaginal and menstrual disorders. Aim: To investigate the phytochemicals from the n-hexane extract of the stem bark of Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don., using GC-MS analysis. Materials and Methods: Stem bark of S.crataegoides was extracted by Soxhlet extraction method using n-hexane. The extract was injected by splitless injection mode into the GC MS 5975 C Agilent equipped with a QP-5000 (quadrupole) Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer. Results: Identification of 57 compounds from n-hexane extract. Those compounds were identified by close matches with standard MS spectra and compared with NIST-11 and WILEY library data. Undecane (7.51%) was found as major compound followed by Isopropyl myristate, Dodecane, 1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene, Octacosane, 2-methyl-decane, 2-ethyl-1,2-dimethyl-benzene, 1,2,3,5-tetramethyl-benzene etc., other constituents were found to be in traceable quantities. Conclusion: GC-MS analysis of S. crataegoides revealed certain interesting facts of presentation of various phytoconstituents in the stem bark. The presence of various phytoconstituents contributes to the medicinal activity of the plant.

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