Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on Ayurvedic drugs Ativisha and Musta

The study include the establishment of pharmacognostic and phytochemical characters of Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle, Ranunculaceae) and to compare them with its substitutes, Cyperus rotundus L. (Musta), C. scariosus R. Br., Cyperaceae, and Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler, Araceae (Country Ativisha). Morphology of the four species was compared in authentic samples collected from the field. We performed histological, histochemical, phytochemical tests, using standard protocols. HPLC studies were done on aqueous extracts of samples in a Shimadzu HPLC system and the peaks were observed at 254nm. Pharmacognostic characterization of Ativisha and others was done as completely as possible. On basis of histochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloid, terpenoid-alkaloid complex, lipids and calcium oxalate majorly. There was less than 50% similarity between Ativisha and the other three species in microscopic characters. There was greater similarity (87%) between the two Cyperus species. The phytochemical studies, on the other hand, showed less similarity (79.2%) between the two Cyperus species. There was greater phytochemical similarity (84.6%) between Aconitum and Cryptocoryne, which justifies the name “Country Ativisha” for the latter. Based on anatomical and histochemical analysis, structural as well as chemical parameters helpful in distinguishing Ativisha from the other three species were established. The phytochemical profiles showed that A. heterophyllum and Cyperus species have five common HPLC peaks which may explain some of their common therapeutic activities. Ativisha and Cryptocoryne show greater phytochemical similarities to one another and this explains why the latter is used in Siddha system of medicine as country Ativisha.