ABSTRACT:
Centella asiatica widely known as Brahmi and Withania somnifera known as Ashwagandha are considered as ‘Medhya rasayanas’ in Ayurveda meaning brain tonic. They are being widely used in various ayurvedic formulations to promote intellect and memory as well as in various nervine disorders by virtue of their active constituents. A detailed investigation of whole plant and roots of both the crude drugs was carried out. The diagnostic characteristics includes presence of stomata, vessels with spiral thickening, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate in brahmi and xylem parenchyma, tracheids, xylem vessel with pitted thickenings, starch grains packed in cells in ashwagandha. Physicochemical analysis showed higher value of moisture(9.34%w/w) and ash content(4.99%w/w) in brahmi. The water soluble extractive value of both the crude drugs were found almost similar but the alcohol soluble extractive value of ashwagangha (11.35% w/w) was found higher than brahmi (9.86 % w/w). Prelimnary analysis for presence of various phytoconstituents revealed presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and starch in both crude drugs. Microbiological tests showed presence of coliform and cocci bacteria in both the crude drugs whereas presence of Staphylococcus and pseudomonas in ashwagandha. TLC chromatographic analysis of methanolic extracts of both drugs showed five spots after spraying derivatising reagent respectively. The information generated by this particular study will generate relevant morphological, anatomical, macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, microbiological data of plants to confirm identification and authentification of plants of these particular species for the benefit of taxonomists as well as common man.