<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Botanical and phytochemical studies on roots of <i>Berberis umbellata</i> Wall. ex G. Don</span>

Abstract

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Berberis umbellata</i> Wall. ex G. Don (Family—Berberidaceae) commonly known as Himalayan Barberry is an important medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic System of Medicine for treating eye disorders, fever, jaundice, skin diseases, etc. The present study provides macro- and microscopical characters, physico-chemical details such as total ash, acid-insoluble ash, hexane, alcohol and water soluble extractive, tannins, sugar and starch percentages. The percentage of berberine as berberine chloride was calculated through HPTLC densitometric method is 3.05%. Study has been undertaken to develop pharmacopoeial standards for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">B. umbellata</i>, this will be utilized by researchers for exploring the possibility as a substitute to <i>B. aristata</i> DC., an official species in the name of <i>Daruharidra</i> reported in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India for herbal drug industry.