50% H2SO4 TEST: A SIMPLE TEST TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN PUSHKARMOOL (Inula racemosa Hook.f.) AND KUSTHA (Saussurea lappa C. B. Clarke)

Abstract

Himalaya is the source of many valuable herbs like Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa), kustha (Saussurea lappa), katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Chirayata (Swertia chirata), Vatsanabha (Aconitum ferox) etc. These herbs are present in the limited pocket which leads to the scarcity of Himalayan herbs. But due to the globalization, demand is increasing and production is decreasing. This decrea se in production gives chance to the raw drug traders to adopt unscrupulous trade. There is a vast document available with regard to morphology of green drugs; it is not of much relevance for physicians who are totally dependent on market for the procurement of medicinal plant raw materials. Many raw materials, in dry form shows common features thus creating lot of confusion and controversy in identification of the crude drug. Same is the case with Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Kustha (Saussurea lappa) both of these herbs are difficult to differentiate from each other. In this test a small amount of powdered Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Kustha (Saussurea lappa) treated with solution of 50% sulphuric acid. The resultant mixture was allowed to stand for 5-10 minutes and the colour characteristics were obtained under day light. Test tube having sample of Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) gave golden rod colour whereas test tube having sample of Kustha (Saussurea lappa) gave red colour. Through this article an attempt is made to develop a simple chemical test to differentiate between Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa) and kustha (Saussurea lappa) which can be easily done by any procurer at the time of purchasing.