About: Panchavalkala is a combination of five bark drugs indicated in wide range of therapeutics in Ayurveda. These are the barks of five trees ie. Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis L.), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa L.), Ashwatha (Ficus religiosa L.), Plaksha (Ficus lacor Buch. Ham.), Parisha (Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol.ex Correa). Barks of these trees are dried in shade and are used for different formulations, in different pathological conditions, especially as wound healing and gynaecological disorders. Because of similar appearance of these five barks usually said to be adulterated with other barks of same species. Macro-microscopic works done under scientific guidelines are easy evident sources to prevent such problems. Materials and Methods: Bark samples of PVK were collected from their natural habitat, authenticated using floras and botanist’s opinion. Macro-microscopic features of these samples were taken as per standard protocol. Results: Bark samples of PVK were thick and fibrous except T. populnea which was thick with transverse crack and fissure, whereas bark of F. racemosa was mucilaginous and F. lacor had transversely arranged lip shaped lenticels on outer surface. Wide secondary phloem and masses of stone cells; thick lignified cortical cells, secondary phloem with sieve tubes and laticiferous cells in the region of phloem were marked histological features of F. religiosa and F. racemosa respectively. F. benghalensis shows a wide secondary cortex with groups of stone cells, pitted cells while a wide secondary phloem is the feature of F. lacor. Starch grain, crystals of calcium oxalate, stone cells were common among powder characters of each sample of PVK.

Panchavalkala Kwatha Curna (PKC) is an important poly-herbal formulation of Ayurveda used in the treatment of inflammation due to wound, ulcer, syphilis, leucorrhoea and conjunctivitis. Physico-chemical studies viz. total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water, alcohol and hydro-alcohol soluble extractive, loss on drying at 105°C, pH, HPTLC and LC-MS PKC and a monograph on quality standards for PKC is proposed from the data obtained to serve as a document to control the quality. Koppala Narayana et al.

Introduction: Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) Wall., locally known as Arikal tumbe by traditional practitioners of Udupi, is an aromatic herb of Lamiaceae. Leaves and aerials parts are used in medicine by traditional practitioners in the treatment of gastric ulcers and stomach ache. Methods: Mature whole plant of A. carnosus (L.f.) Wall. after flowering and fruiting was collected from Udupi District and authenticated. Macromicroscopic, physicochemical standards, HPTLC and secondary metabolites screening were recorded scientifically. Results: The pharmacognostic study of leaf has shown single layer upper epidermis with cuticle cyst walls, covering of trichomes which are uniserate with blunt apex. Anatomical features of Stem of A. carnosus exhibited trichomes, which were attached to epidermis, beneath these 2 or 3 layers compactly arranged collenchymas was present. In transverse section root showed outer cork which was thick wall brown in colour followed by cortex 5-6 layers. Powder microscopy characteristics showed the presence of starch in parenchyma region. Physicochemical standards and HPTLC represent the standard out prints of the drug. Preliminary Phytochemical study reveals it contain it Alkaloids, Carbohydrates, Steroids, Tannins, Phenol, Carboxylic acid and Quinone. Conclusion: Pharmacognostical study carried out on A. carnosus, showed quality standards of the drug, with respect to its macro-microscopy, physico-chemical standards and HPTLC.

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