Pharmacognostical and phytochemical evaluation of vacha rhizome (acorus calamus linn.) - a research article

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Vacha is the important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat different ailments and maintain health condition. Vacha is a strongly aromatic gregarious perennial herb, with close set distichously arranged, erects narrowly ensiform, glossy green leaves, arising from a partially underground creeping and branching rhizome. The present study was carried out to investigate morphological, microscopical, physicochemical and phytochemical studies of Vacha rhizome. Morphological studies showed the presence of various diagnostic characters like brownish colour, cylindrical, branched shape, aromatic odour, pungent/bitter taste. In the microscopical studies, t.s. showed the presence of epidermis, cortex, fibrovascular bundle, endodermis contain parenchymatous cells and vascular bundle and powder of drug shows vessels with starch grain. Ash value, extractive value, foreign matter, moisture content and TLC were determined for quality standard of drugs. Phytochemical investigation shows the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, glycoside, phenolic compounds and tannins. The result of the study could be useful for identification and preparation of monograph of the plant Keywords: Acorus Calamus, Pharmacognostical evaluation, Phytochemical studies, Vacha INTRODUCTION Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) commonlycalled as ‘Sweet flag’of family Araceae, is asemiaquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes, sword shaped leaves and spadix inflorescence. Acorus calamus growseither as wild or cultivated crop throughout India ascending upto 1800 m in the Himalayas (1)The rhizomes are considered to possess anti‐spasmodic, carminative, anthelmintic, aro- INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL International Ayurvedic Medical Journal, ( ISSN: 2320 5091) (October, 2017) 5(10) PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF VACHA RHIZOME ( ACORUS CALAMUS LINN. ) - A RESEARCH ARTICLE Raut Mangesh M 1 , Deogade Meena S 2 , Khobragade Pramod 3 1 P.G. Scholar, 2 Asso. Professor, 3 HOD and Asso. Professor,Department of Dravyaguna Vigyan, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College Hospital And Research Center, Salod (H), Wardha, Maharashtra, India Email: mangeshraut 87@gmail.com ABSTRACT Vacha is the important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat different ailments and maintain health condition. Vacha is a strongly aromatic gregarious perennial herb, with close set distichously arranged, erects narrowly ensiform, glossy green leaves, arising from a partially underground creeping and branching rhizome. The present study was carried out to investigate morphological, microscopical, physicochemical and phytochemical studies of Vacha rhizome. Morphological studies showed the presence of various diagnostic characters like brownish colour, cylindrical, branched shape, aromatic odour, pungent/bitter taste. In the microscopical studies, t.s. showed the presence of epidermis, cortex, fibrovascular bundle, endodermis contain parenchymatous cells and vascular bundle and powder of drug shows vessels with starch grain. Ash value, extractive value, foreign matter, moisture content and TLC were determined for quality standard of drugs. Phytochemical investigation shows the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, glycoside, phenolic compounds and tannins. The result of the study could be useful for identification and preparation of monograph of the plant Keywords: Acorus Calamus, Pharmacognostical evaluation, Phytochemical studies, Vacha INTRODUCTION Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.) commonlycalled as ‘Sweet flag’of family Araceae, is asemiaquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes, sword shaped leaves and spadix inflorescence. Acorus calamus growseither as wild or cultivated crop throughout India ascending upto 1800 m in the Himalayas (1)The rhizomes are considered to possess anti‐spasmodic, carminative, anthelmintic, aro- INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL International Ayurvedic Medical Journal, ( ISSN: 2320 5091) (October, 2017) 5(10) PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF VACHA RHIZOME ( ACORUS CALAMUS LINN. ) - A RESEARCH ARTICLE Raut Mangesh M 1 , Deogade Meena S 2 , Khobragade Pramod 3 1 P.G. Scholar, 2 Asso. Professor, 3 HOD and Asso. Professor,Department of Dravyaguna Vigyan, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College Hospital And Research Center, Salod (H), Wardha, Maharashtra, India Email: mangeshraut 87@gmail.com ABSTRACT Vacha is the important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat different ailments and maintain health condition. Vacha is a strongly aromatic gregarious perennial herb, with close set distichously arranged, erects narrowly ensiform, glossy green leaves, arising from a partially underground creeping and branching rhizome. The present study was carried out to investigate morphological, microscopical, physicochemical and phytochemical studies of Vacha rhizome. Morphological studies showed the presence of various diagnostic characters like brownish colour, cylindrical, branched shape, aromatic odour, pungent/bitter taste. In the microscopical studies, t.s. showed the presence of epidermis, cortex, fibrovascular bundle, endodermis contain parenchymatous cells and vascular bundle and powder of drug shows vessels with starch grain. Ash value, extractive value, foreign matter, moisture content and TLC were determined for quality standard of drugs. Phytochemical investigation shows the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, glycoside, phenolic compounds and tannins. The result of the study could be useful for identification and preparation of monograph of the plant Keywords: Acorus Calamus, Pharmacognostical evaluation, Phytochemical studies, Vacha INTRODUCTION Vacha