Pharmacognostical Characterization of Ocimum Spp.

Abstract

Nature has provided a complete storehouse of remedies to cure ailments of mankind. About 80% of the world's population depends wholly or partially on traditional medicine for its primary health care needs. Pharmacognosy is mainly concerned with naturally occurring substances having a medicinal action. Morphological and anatomical characters play a vital role in crude drug standardization. However, a proper documentation of medicinal plants of Ocimum spp is lacking and many times adulterants are passed as genuine drugs. In the present investigation Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum have been selected for the pharmacognostical studies due to its medicinal importance.