Comparative Pharmacognostical & Phytochemical Study of Kodrava (Paspalum scrobiculatum) & Mandua (Eleusine coracana)

Abstract

Reference of Kodrava (Kodo millets) and Mandua (Eleusine coracana) can be well traced in different Samhitas. Acharya Charaka described Kodrava, where it was indicated in disorders of Kapha and Pitta.^[1] In Nighantus, Kodrava and Mandua (Finger millets) both mentioned as Laghu, Swadu, Katu Vipaka, Lekhniya, Ruksha, Vatapittaprakopaka.^[2] Many plants have been described in Ayurveda in them Ahara holds greater medical importance, this study is an attempt to compare the Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical evaluation between the Kodrava and Mandua, as here the peoples of Uttarakhand called Kodo (Kodrava) and Mandua are same and shopkeepers also knows Kodo in the name of Mandua only. So, on the basis of their Pharmacognostical and Phytochemicals profiles., one can differentiate both the drugs. The Macroscopy and Microscopy of seeds of both the plants were studied as per standard procedures. The powders of both the drug’s seeds used in the experimental study to ascertain its Rasa by dilution method. Both the parts shows the same Rasa i.e., Madhura and Kashaya, Virya Sheet and almost same morphological and microscopical characters like Aleurone layer with Starch grains and oil droplets was present. Embryo can be seen clearly in both the drugs. The dissimilar character in both the drugs was Epithelial cells with Air space and thick walled Endosperm cells present in EC but not in PS. Hence it is concluded that both drugs are different with same family Poaceae.