Anatomical Study of Six Ocimum Species: The Valuable Method Used in Indian Systems of Medicines (ISM)

Bikram Keshari Mohapatra,Gyanranjan Mahalik,Sagarika Parida

doi:10.47552/ijam.v11i2.1507

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the morphological and anatomical traits of six Ocimum species namely Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Syn. O. Sanctum L. (green var. known as Radha Tulasi), O. tenuiflorum L. (purple var. known as Krishna Tulasi), O. basilicum L.( green var. known as Sugandhi Tulasi), O. basilicum var. pupurascens L.( purple var. known as Durlabha Tulasi), O. canum Sims. (Kanaka Tulasi) and O. gratissimum L. (Rama Tulasi). Chlorophyll estimation of young and matured leaves was also estimated. Cholorophyll a, Chl. b and total chlorophyll was maximum in both young and matured leaves of O. gratissimum L. compared to other species. Carotenoid pigments was maximum of 203.94 mg/ml in young leaves of O. gratissimum L. and 244.92 mg/ml in matured leaves of O. sanctum L. Comparative morphological characters and anatomical variation were studied for identification of the desired species in drug manufacturing industries before making formulations. This study will certainly help to ensure the quality of the crude drug as these are collected by untrained workers and supplied in dry condition to the drug manufacturing industries. Therefore, there is a chance of adulteration because of vested interest or ignorance as many plants are known by common names or in vernacular names. It was found that the six species can be identified and authenticated using these experimental findings before preparation of compound Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs in Indian System of Medicines.

Highlights

Medicinal plants play an important role in the health of individuals and human beings
Sanctum L., O. tenuiflorum L., O. basilicum L.( green var. known as Sugandhi), O. basilicum var. pupurascens L.( purple var. known as Durlabha), O. canum Sims. (Kanaka Tulasi) and O. gratissimum L. (Rama Tulasi) were taken for morphological study (Fig.1- 6), anatomical study of stem and chlorophyll estimation of young and matured leaves. Among these two varieties from Ocimum tenuiflorum L., two varieties of O. basilicum L. and one variety from O. canum Sims. and one from O. gratissimum L. were taken for this study (Table 1)
Morphological studies of six Ocimum species showed a high level of variability (Fig. 1-6)

Summary

Introduction

Medicinal plants play an important role in the health of individuals and human beings. The Indian System of Medicine is the culmination of Indian thought of medicine for healthy living. It is combined with other system of medicine like Greece (resulting in Unani Medicine) or Germany (Homeopathy) or our scriptures/sages which gave us the science of Ayurveda, Siddha and Yoga and Naturopathy for successful management of various disease conditions. The medicinal properties of these plants are based on bioactive constituents that produce a particular action on human body. Ocimum is the important genus of the subfamily Nepetoideae under the family Lamiaceae. It has been reported that genus Ocimum has more than 160 species

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