ABSTRACT:
Darbha (Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Beauv) is commonly known as Cogon Grass and used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various urinary disorders. The plant belongs to the family Poaceae. It is a tufted, perennial grass with hard, creeping roots and it reaches a height of 0.6-1.5 m. It is found in hotter parts of India, both in plains and hills. It is found in all continents and is known as one of the ten worst weeds. It is an important drug of “Trinpanchmool”. It is a reputed drug mentioned in the ancient books of Ayurveda, used extensively for the treatment of various ailments viz. urinary calculi, retention of urine, diabetes, cardiac disorder, gout, common cough and cold, inflammation, anaemia, etc. It also acts as aphrodisiac and rejuvenator. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. The drug contains 5 triterpenoids viz. cylindrin, arundorin, ferneon, isoburneol and simiarenol. The important Ayurvedic formulations of Darbha are Brahma Rasayana, Sukumara Ghrita, Karpuradyarka, Trikantaka Ghrita, Trinapanchamool kwath, Kushavaleha, Kushadhya ghrita etc. The root of this plant exhibited a set of diagnostic characters, which will help to identify the drug in dried condition. The present study attempts to investigate Phytochemical, Pharmacognostical and Physico-chemical parameters like pH, Loss on drying at 105°C, Water soluble extract, Alcohol soluble extract, Total Ash and Acid insoluble ash etc. These parameters will be useful in authentication and identification of the adulterants and quality control of raw drug of Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Beauv.