Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF COSTUS SPECIOSUS (J. KOENIG) SM

Sheeza Charania and Meenakshi Sudhir Vaidya*

Abstract

Costus speciosus belongs to family Costaceae. C. speciosus is a tropical Zingiberaceae plant, which is wide spread throughout Southeast Asia. It is considered as an important component in many human and veterinary medicines; C. speciosus is widely used in treating various diseases. It is distinguishable from other families within the order by well- developed aerial shoots which have a characteristic monostichchous (one-sided) spiral phyllotaxy. Its close relationship with Zingiberaceae is evidenced by its former placement as a subfamily within the larger Zingiberaceae family. In the present study the pharmacognostic evaluation of the plant was carried out by studying the physico-chemical parameters like ash values, extractive values and pharmacognostic tests as it is medicinally important.

Keywords: Costus speciosus, ash values, extractive values, physico-chemical.