Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF RUDRAKSHA (Elaeocarpus ganitrus ROXB.EX G.DON)

Neha Rai*, Suresh Chaubey, Shailendra Pradhan and Richa Sharma

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Abstract

Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb.ex G.Don) (syn. Elaeocarpus sphaericus) has been in use as a herbal preparation both as preventive and curative medicine. It bears a great religious, spiritual and materialistic significance. Traditionally, the plant is used to treat various diseases such as mental diseases, hypertension, epilepsy etc. Aim: To evaluate pharmacognostical and phytochemical study of Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb.ex G.Don). Material & Method: Fresh fruits of Rudraksha were collected from its authentic source and pharmacognostical and phytochemical analysis was done by following the standard protocol. Result: Rudraksha was evaluated for different standardization parameters which showed Foreign matter (0%), moisture content (6.39%), pH value (5.1), Alcohol extractive value (10.33 %), aqueous extractive value (18.81%), Total ash (1.01%), acid insoluble ash (0.29 %), water soluble ash (0.35%). Phytochemical analysis showed presence and absence of various phytoconstituents in two different extracts i.e., Aqueous and ethanol. Conclusion: Each plant has countless medicinal values which can be used to treat different diseases but this can be only possible if we are aware of its pharmacognostical and phytochemical properties.

Keywords: Rudraksha, Hypertension, Epilepsy, Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical