PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF RASAN ROOT INULA RACEMOSA HOOK. F. (ASTERACEACE): AN ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT OF KASHMIR

Inula racemosa Hook. F. commonly known as “rasan” is a stout perennial herb which belongs to family Asteraceace with peculiar and limited distribution from temperate to alpine belts of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, Rasan is found inadequately in the areas of Gurez (1586 m), Farozpora (2150 m), Gulmarg (2650 m), Simthantop (3784 m), Razdantop (3300 m) and KUBG (1595 m). The locals have been applying the paste of root mixed with some edible oils to treat scabies and chest pain. Traditionally the roots are used for treatment of phlegmatic migraine, melancholia, severe flatulence, loss of appetite, intestinal worms liver diseases, obstructive and non-obstructive jaundice, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus, leprosy, paralysis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, urinary incontinence. etc (Galen) (Baitar, 1999) (Ghani, 2010) (Magrabi, 2007).. Since there is no detailed standardization work done on the above plant, Therefore, it has been analyzed through pharmacognostic techniques such as morphological, microscopic, and physio-chemical evaluations to keep the originality of the plant and to avoid adulteration. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of gylcosides, tannins, sterols, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, proteins, phenols, saponins. The above-mentioned studies that have been reported, for the first time, for the said plant may be significant to establish the pharmacognostic and phytochemical standards of the said species.