Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF CURCUMA AERUGINOSA ROXB

*Mariat George, S. John Britto and Thamacin Arulappan

Abstract

Cucurma is a tropical genus comprising of 120 species of rhizomatous herbs. They are used both as spices and medicines. Curcuma aeruginosa, is commonly known as ‘kali haldi’. The rhizome of plant is used medicinally to treat asthma and cough, scurvy, mental derangements, and dysentery. It also possesses bioactive components like curcuminoids which are responsible for anti-inflammatory properties, wound healing, hypoglycemia, anticoagulant and antimicrobial activities. In the pharmacognostic study, leaves are seen with paracytic stomata and trichome with oil cavities. Rhizome also has starch grains and spiral, pitted and scalariform xylary elements. In rhizomes, phytoconstituents like mucilage, lignin, starch, alkaloids, tannins, calcium oxalate crystals and saponins are identified. The present study will be useful towards establishing pharmacognostic standards on identification, purity, quality and classification of plants, which are gaining relevance in plant drug research.

Keywords: pharmacognostic, histochemical, physico-chemical, ash values.