Pharmacognostic Specification of Vetiveria zizanioides Roots in Thailand

Abstract

Dried roots of Vetiveria zizanioides Nash (commonly known in Thai as ‘PHAEK-HOM’) were collected from 15 Thai traditional drug stores in 13 provinces located at 4 regions of Thailand. Crude drugs were evaluated by World Health Organization (WHO) quality control methods for medicinal plant materials. Cross section of the root and powdered drug were studied for microscopic characters. The mean contents of pharmacognostic specifications of Vetiveria zizanioides roots were described as follow: foreign matter 0.30% w/w, acid-insoluble ash 9.10% w/w, total ash 10.63% w/w, ethanol-soluble extractive 4.98% w/w, water-soluble extractive 48.03% w/w, loss on drying 9.34% w/w, volatile oil content 0.23% w/w and water content 8.48% w/w. The roots of V. zizanioides contained numerous starch grains which varied in size distributed in reserved parenchyma and the radial arrangement with fibre-parenchyma was found. TLC and GC fingerprint of volatile oil of V. zizanioides roots were demonstrated.