Comparative Anatomical and Histochemical Characterization of the Source Plants of the Ayurvedic Drug Rasna

Abstract

Rasna is an ayurvedic drug. Alpinia galanga, Alpinia calcarata and Pluchea lanceolata are used as source plants of Rasna. The two species of Alpinia are used in Kerala and in North India Pluchea lanceolata is used as the source of rasna. This paper deals with the morphological, anatomical and histological comparisons of rhizomes of the two species of Alpinia and root of Pluchea lanceolata. For anatomical comparison, histological and histochemical details were carried out. The study reveals how these plants can be easily identified using these markers for quality control and standardisation.