A STUDY OF VARIOUS MARKET SAMPLES OF SWEET FLAG (ACORUS CALAMUS LINN) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS PHARMACOGNOSTIC & PHYTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS.

Abstract

Sweet flag is one of the extensively prescribed herbs in Ayurvedic formulations. It has quoted in Brihatrayi i.e, Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Astanga Hridaya several times for many diseased conditions especially in speech problems. Rhizome is medicinally useful part and botanical resource is Acorus calamus Linn, belongs to Family Araceae. The rhizome is acrid, bitter, aromatic , intellect promoting , emetic , carminative , stomachic , expectorant , antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory , anti-pyretic , voice promoting and useful in mental disorders. Its market demand increases day by day comparing to supply. This leads to premature harvesting of rhizome and intentional practice of adulteration with so many other species. Sometimes such types of raw materials have less aromatic smell and essential chemical components. Ultimately it hampers the therapeutic efficacy. Therefore a sincere effort has made by procuring market samples from different markets and to analyze on basis of their different Pharmacognostic & Phytochemical parameters .The reported data also compared with standard parameters of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia.