<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-GB">Pharmacognostical studies on the root and rhizome of <i>Nymphoides hydrophylla</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> (Linn.) O. Kuntze –An alternate source for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Tagara </i>drug</span></span>

Abstract

Tagara is an important drug used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The accepted botanical source of Tagara is <i>Valeriana jatamasni </i>Jones, although different species of <i>Nymphoides </i>Hill are used by the physicians. The pharmacognostical evaluation of the root and rhizome of <i>Nymphoides hydrophylla</i>, a potential alternative source for Tagara is presented in this paper. Important details like morphology of the plant, macro-, microscopical characters, macerate, histochemical tests, UV studies of the root and rhizome along with physico-chemical constants, phytochemical analysis and HPTLC finger print profile are presented, all of which will be useful in the standardization of this drug. Isolation of β-sitosterol, betulinic, salicylic and tannic acids are reported for the first time from <i>N. hydrophylla.</i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">The pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies help in the identification of <i>N. hydrophylla </i>from other species used as Tagara.

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