The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India : Vol: VI: Part : I

From the Preface: "The first second part of the Ayurvedic formulary of India comprising of 444 and 191 formulations respectively cover more than 351 single drugs of plant origin. This is part of nearly 500 priority single drugs of plant origin to come with in the ambit of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part-I, Vol-I, Vol. II, Vol. III, Vol. IV and V Comprises 80, 78, 100, 68 and 72 monographs of Ayurvedic single drugs of plant origin which go into one or more formulations included in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part-I and Part-II. As a continuing activity monographs in 96 single drugs of plant origin and four monographs each on Guda (Jaggery), Goghrta (Clarified Cow's Butter), Jala (Potable water), Madhu (Honey) and Sarkara (Sugar) used as Vehicle or adjuvant, making compilation of Vol. VI of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India Part-I comprising of these 101 monographs. In compiling the monograph, each monograph bears the title of the drug in Sanskrit as given in Ayurvedic formulary of India. This is followed by definition of the drug giving botanical identity by using scientific binomial nomenclature with authority and very brief information about its source, occurrence, distribution and precautions to be taken during collection, if any. List of synonyms in Sanskrit and also in other Indian regional languages. The monograph further  records macroscopic and microscopic description of the drug highlighting diagnostic features for identification and authentication even if the drug is in powdered state. The monograph further gives under identity, purity and strength, certain physico chemical parameters such as limits of foreign matter, moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive, water soluble extractive, volatile content (if any) followed by thin layer chromatographic fingerprint profile. Wherever feasible, an Assay of active/marker chemical constituent or a group of chemical constituents such as total alkaloids or volatile oil etc have been given. There is always range of variations in data on chemical constituents and certain physico chemical parameters due to geographical, climatic and ontogenetic variability. Therefore, variations in results of such data pose difficulty in fixing narrow range. The data has been given on the basis of average results of 3 samples from different laboratories. Under the constituents major chemical constituents as reported in the literature have been given."