IJRAP International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy 2277-4343 Moksha Publishing House 10.7897/2277-4343.096180 COMPARISON OF THE LEAF DRUG RUTA GRAVEOLENS AND ITS SUBSTITUTE RUTA CHALEPENSIS Rubeena Mattummal * Divya Kallingilkalathil Gopi Sunil Kumar Koppala Narayana 11 -0001 100 110 Abstract Ruta__ampersandsignnbsp;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__ampersandsignrsquo;s a potential drug used in all the traditional systems of medicine.__ampersandsignnbsp;Aruvatha mattirai__ampersandsignnbsp;andAruvathac curanamare the Siddha formulations prepared from dried leaves of__ampersandsignnbsp;R. graveolens. The leaves of__ampersandsignnbsp;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,__ampersandsignnbsp;R. graveolensfrom its substitute.Methods:__ampersandsignnbsp;Driedleaves of both species were collected from__ampersandsignnbsp;medicinal garden of Siddha Medical College, Arumbakkam. The macroscopic and microscopic details including powder were studied following the standard pharmacopoeial procedures.__ampersandsignnbsp;Results:__ampersandsignnbsp;Macroscopically leaves are different colored with dissimilar shape, in microscopic study__ampersandsignnbsp;R. graveolensshowed toothed lamina with glandular trichomes while__ampersandsignnbsp;R. chalepensisshowed lamina without trichomes. Quantitative__ampersandsignnbsp;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__ampersandsignnbsp;R. graveolensleaves showed the presence of pitted and spiral vessels while__ampersandsignnbsp;R. chalepensisshowed annular and spiral vessels.Conclusion:__ampersandsignnbsp;The study provides the characteristicsfeatures to distinguish__ampersandsignnbsp;R. graveolensfrom__ampersandsignnbsp;R. chalapensis. Keywords Adulteration Powder microscopy quantitative microscopy Substitution References