Pharmacognostic evaluation of <i style="">Curcuma haritha </i>Linn

Abstract

<i style="">Curcuma haritha</i> Linn (Family: <i style="">Zingiberaceae</i>), a lesser-known medicinal zingiber, is wildly distributed in Kerala. It is common throughout the costal regions and grows along with <i style="">C. caesia</i> and <i style="">C. raktakanta</i>, but is rarely found in high altitude grasslands. It is closely related to <i style="">C. aromatica</i>, but differs in the yellowish-grey, non-aromatic rhizome, leathery, semipilicate, erect leaves, white corolla and yellow tip with a median dark yellow band. It also resembles <i style="">C. raktakanta</i> but differs from it in having green puesdostem with light pink spots, white corolla lobes and swollen placenta. A paste of rhizome is useful externally for cuts, wounds, itching and in sprains. Pharmacognostic evaluation of its rhizome showed: total ash, 7.4; acid insoluble ash, 1.5; alcohol soluble extractives, 8.50; water soluble extractives, 19.50; sugar, 5.11; starch, 42.88 and tannins, 1.78%. On hydro distillation, rhizomes and sessile tubers yield oil (0.58%).