Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of leaf galls of <i>Kakadshringi </i>used in Indian system of medicine

Abstract

<i>Kakadshringi</i>, a well-known crude drug used as antidiarrheal in Indian system of traditional medicine, is leaf gall of <i>Pistacia</i>

<i>integrrima </i>Stew. ex Brindis., <i>Terminalia chebula </i>Retz. and <i>Garuga pinnata </i>Roxb. This study presents pharmacognostic and

phytochemical evaluation on galls of three botanically different plant species to establish identification markers. Phytochemical

analysis revealed that gallic acid and phenol content were higher in <i>P. integrrima </i>than other two samples. Occurrence of gallic

acid was: <i>P. integerrima </i>(15.41 ± 0.016 mg/g) > <i>T. chebula </i>(8.65 ± 0.024 mg/g) > <i>G. pinnata </i>(6.80 ± 0.0113 mg/g). Thus, <i>P.</i>

<i>integrrima</i>, which contains higher amounts of tannins than <i>T. chebula </i>and <i>G. pinnata</i>, is recommended as potential for antidiarrheal

activity.