Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 11: 24-26. 2007. Rubia
cordifolia Linn. (Manjistha) – Controversial
Identity |
S.K. Mitra and R. Kannan Bangalore-562123. Email: research@himalayahealthcare.com
Issued |
|
Abstract |
In indigenous systems of
medicine, Rubia cordifolia
Linn. is the accepted source for Manjistha. A recent research found that market samples of
R. cordifolia from south Key Words: Rubia cordifolia,
Rubia tinctorium, Manjistha,
authentic source, controversy, polymorphism, pharmacognosy. |
Introduction |
Indigenous systems of
medicine play a vital role in rural health populations. Complexities in herbal
nomenclature system in indigenous systems of medicine lead to
misidentification of plants. Identifying the exact plant mentioned in
traditional literature and identifying the adulterants or substitutes are
major tasks in basic research. There
are controversies between researchers in identifying the source of plants.
This article enumerates about the controversial identifications/comments made
in the botanical sources of a popular herb Rubia
cordifolia. |
Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Manjistha) |
A recent research article
was published (Pathania et al., 2006) on the
authentication of market samples of R. cordifolia.
Authors purchased the samples from 5 different places and compared them with
the field-collected, botanically-identified authentic plant. It was found
that samples purchased from north Indian markets were authentic and samples
purchased from south Indian markets ( |
Habitat of R. cordifolia and other species |
R. cordifolia
is found
throughout the hilly districts of |
R. cordifolia is a common plant in
almost all parts of south |
Adulteration and
Polymorphism in R. cordifolia |
Sarin (1996) mentioned that
stem pieces are adulterants, and samples derived from |
Anonymous (1995),
mentioned that R. cordifolia is a complex
group, exhibiting a wide range of morphological characters. Santapau & Henry (1973) mentioned that R. cordifolia group consists of several distinct species
and in |
Controversy and Conclusion |
1.
Rubia cordifolia
is the only species found in south |
A plant, which is not
found in wild or in cultivation in south |
2.
If we believe that R. tinctorium is the
source of adulterant in south Indian markets, then it might have originated
from the |
However, it is
unbelievable that an adulterant sold in south Indian markets, originated from
the |
3.
In general, morphological and geographical variations alter the phytochemical constituents of plants. |
It is concluded that the
market samples sold in south Indian markets may be originated from a
different polymorphic plant or a geographical race and never from R. tinctorium. |
It is recommended that all
forms, types and sub-species of R. cordifolia
should be studied for its correct botanical identity and phytochemical
constituents. |
References |
1.
Pahania, S., |
2.
Dengre, R.G., Patel, K.N. and Chauhan, M.B., 1993, Comparative studies of Rubia cordifolia
Linn. and Rubia tinctorum Linn. (Rubiaceae),
Ancient Science of Life, V.13 (1&2), pp: 165-179. |
3.
Hooker, J.D., 1882, he Flora
of British India, Vol |
4.
Gamble, J.S., 1921, Flora of
the Presidency of Madras, London. pp: 654-655. |
5.
Mathew, K.M., 1983, The
Flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic,
Vol |
6.
Ramaswamy, S.V. and Razi,
B.A., 1973, Flora of Bangalore, Prasaranga,
University of Mysore, Mysore,
India. pp: 590-591. |
7.
Mathew, K.M., 1999, The
flora of the Palni hills, south India, Part 2, The Rapinat Herbarium Tiruchirapalli,
India. pp: 630-631. |
8.
Pallithanam, J.M., A pocket flora of the Sirumalai Hills, south India, the Rapinat
Herbarium, Tiruchirapalli, India. pp: 127. |
9.
Singh, N.P., 1988, Flora of
Eastern Karnataka, Vol I, Mittal
publications, Delhi, India. pp: 356-357 |
10. Kesavamurthy,
K.R. and Yoganarasimhan, S.N., 1990, Flora of Coorg (Kodagu), |
11. Saldana, J. & Nicolson, H, 1976, Flora of Hassan
District, Karnataka, India, Amerind publishing co.
Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India. pp: 590. |
12. Nair, K.K.N. and Nayar, M.P., 1987, Flora of Courtallum,
Vol 2, Botanical Survey of |
13. Sarin,
Y.K., 1996, Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs used in Ayurveda,
CSIR & ICMR, |
14. Anonymous, 1972, Wealth of |
15. Santapau,
H. and Henry, A.N., A dictionary of the flowering plants in India, NISCOM,
New Delhi, India. pp: 148. |