P Padma Rao
Drug Standardisation Unit, India
Title: Pharmacognostic standardisation of rumex crispus linn. in homoeopathic
Biography
Biography: P Padma Rao
Abstract
Plant kingdom represents an extraordinary reservoir of molecules, that can be beneficial to mankind. Rumex crispus L., is a perennial shrub belonging to the family Polygonaceae. It is also known in English as ‘Curled dock’ or ‘yellow dock’. It is a native of Europe and also occurs worldwide. The roots are useful in various therapeutic conditions viz., abortion, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, corns, coryza, cough, and diarrhoea. The roots are 0.5 to 1.3 cm thick, blackish, brown, tortuous with irregular striations and with long, wiry rootlets. The outermost phellem is 8-10 layered, shrivelled and discontinuous. Phelloderm occurs in two zones with outer possessing elongated cells in undulated layers containing dense resinous matter and sphaeraphides. Secondary phloem is upto 25 celled and interrupted by 1-3 seriate medullary rays. The central cortex is extensive and traversed with vascular strands. Pith is present at the centre. The powder microscopic and organoleptic characters are presented. Physico – chemical parameters of raw drugs viz., extractive values, ash values, formulation besides wt.per ml., total solids, alcohol content along with HPTLC fingerprinting and UV studies were undertaken of the mother tincture for the first time.