• Lalit Nagar

Due to excessive deforestation and extreme weather conditions adulteration of Himalaya herbs is rampant. Moreover, to our misfortune, medical practitioners started depending upon the traders for obtaining the raw materials. Hence, the need for identification of these herbs through botanical surveys, pharmacognostic studies and the assessment of the quality of the material available in a particular area or market is essential. Different parts of medicinal plant raw materials, in dry form, show different features most of which are being common to many drugs thus creating lot of confusion and controversy in identification of the crude drug. Same is the case with Kustha (Saussurea lappa). So to check the status of Kustha in markets a market study was done by the author in the department of Dravyaguna, NIA, Jaipur in the year 2012, which covers six major markets from all over India. Phytochemical study of market samples of Kustha was done and compared with the genuine source collected from its native habitat. Samples from three markets of India matches with Kustha i.e. roots of Saussurea lappa C.B Clarke. Samples from two markets were identified as roots of Nagauri Ashwagandha i.e. Withania ashwagandha and one market sample were identified as roots of Pushkarmool i.e. Inula racemosa. Quality of the market samples along with the price of the drug varies from market to market.

Saussurea lappa, Phytochemical, Adulteration, Market study.

"PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF KUSTHA (Saussurea lappa C.B. CLARKE.) AND ITS MARKET SAMPLES.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no.254-258, June-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806031.pdf

"PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF KUSTHA (Saussurea lappa C.B. CLARKE.) AND ITS MARKET SAMPLES.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no. pp254-258, June-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806031.pdf