Article: COMPARISON OF THE LEAF DRUG RUTA GRAVEOLENS AND ITS SUBSTITUTE RUTA CHALEPENSIS

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.096180

Pages: 100-110

Author: Rubeena Mattummal *, Divya Kallingilkalathil Gopi, Sunil Kumar Koppala Narayana

Abstract: Ruta graveolensis known as common rue, belongs to family Rutaceae. Rue oil is obtained from steam distillation of fresh plant material and used as anthelminthic, antispasmodic, antiepileptic, rubefacient and emmenagogue. It’s a potential drug used in all the traditional systems of medicine. Aruvatha mattirai andAruvathac curanamare the Siddha formulations prepared from dried leaves of R. graveolens. The leaves of R. chalepensiscommonly known as fringed rue, is reported to be used as a substitute owing to similar morphology in dried form. So this current study is to compare and contrast the authentic drug, R. graveolensfrom its substitute.Methods: Driedleaves of both species were collected from medicinal garden of Siddha Medical College, Arumbakkam. The macroscopic and microscopic details including powder were studied following the standard pharmacopoeial procedures. Results: Macroscopically leaves are different colored with dissimilar shape, in microscopic study R. graveolensshowed toothed lamina with glandular trichomes while R. chalepensisshowed lamina without trichomes. Quantitative microscopy of both species was carried out and the epidermal number, stomatal number, stomatal index, vein islet number, vein islet ratio, palisade ratio was recorded. Powder microscopy of R. graveolensleaves showed the presence of pitted and spiral vessels while R. chalepensisshowed annular and spiral vessels.Conclusion: The study provides the characteristicsfeatures to distinguish R. graveolensfrom R. chalapensis.

Keyword: Adulteration, Powder microscopy, quantitative microscopy, Substitution