PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA LINN (YASHTIMADHU) FROM RAW DRUG MARKETS OF KERALA

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn [Yashtimadhu] is a perennial herb mainly distributed in sub-tropical and warm temperate regions. The rhizome of the plant is a raw drug ingredient in the Ayurvedic formulary. It is effectively proved with properties such as memory enhancing activity, hepatoprotective activity, anti-lipidemic, anti-hyperglycemic activity, anti-bacterial etc. It is a principal ingredient in many ayurvedic formulations and preparations, manufactured by all the manufacturing units. Large scale and small scale ayurvedic medicinal industry of Kerala also manufacture these medicines. Though Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn [Yashtimadhu] is not a cultivated plant in Kerala, this raw drug is abundantly available in raw drug markets of Kerala, pointing to possibility of adulteration The study was conducted by screening 28 samples (one urban and one rural) of Yashtimadhu collected from each of the 14 districts of Kerala. The pharmacognostic characteristics of market samples were compared with those of the original drug samples collected directly and also with the standards mentioned in API. The study revealed that the samples available in the raw drug markets of Kerala are genuine.