Research & Reviews: Journal of Herbal Science Volume 1, Issue 1, April 2012, Pages 24-28. © STM Journals 2011. All Rights Reserved Page 24 Comparative Morphological and Chromatographic Studies on Mesua ferrea Linn. and Ochrocarpus longifolius B. & H. Source Species of Nagkesara in Commerce Kunal Sajwan 1 *, Sonali Sajwan 1 , Nitin Rai 2 , Rajeev Kumar Sharma 3 1 Drug Standardization Research Institute, (CCRUM), PLIM Campus, Opp. M- Block, Sector- 23, Ghaziabad, U.P., India 2 Department of Botany, M. M. H. College, Ghaziabad, U.P., India 3 Pharmacoepial Laboratory of Indian Medicine, Ghaziabad, U.P., India ABSTRACT Stamens of Mesua ferrea Linn. is the source of “Nagkesara,” a drug considered to be astringent, stomachic and expectorant, but Ochrocarpus longifolius B & H is also available as Nagkesara in the commerce. The present communication deals with the comparative morphological and chromatographic (HPTLC) studies of both the species which may help to differentiate the drug Nagkesara resourced from both the botanical and available in commerce. Keywords: Nagkesara, HPTLC, stamens *Author for Correspondence E-mail: kunalsajwan@gmail.com 1. INTRODUCTION Mesua ferrea Linn. (Family-Clusiaceae) is the source of the Nagkesara. It finds mention in all important ancient Ayurvedic literature to be used as astringent, stomachic and expectorant. Dried flowers are powdered and mixed with ghee or a paste made up of flowers with addition of butter and sugar is given in bleeding piles as well as dysentery with mucus. Syrup of flowering buds is given for the cure of dysentery. These are also applied for relief in burning sensation. This drug was also adopted by Arab and Unani physicians into their Materia Medica describing as “Narae-Kaiser” attributing depressant action on uterine muscles, digestive, anti-dysenteric and ammenagogue [15]. It is used as an ingredient in a number of classical Unani formulations [1–5]. In the commerce, flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius B & H are also sold under the name Nagkesara. O. longifolius flower buds are stimulant, aromatic, stomachic, bitter and astringent. Several workers have carried out market surveys of Nagkesara. Satkopan and Thomas (1967) surveyed Gujarat markets and found only one sample from Surat as genuine Nagkesara. These authors have also tried to identify other samples being sold as Nagkesara. Satkopan and Thomas (1967a, 1968) and Ali (1968) surveyed the south Indian markets; however they found none of the samples as Mesua ferrea L. Some other workers worked on other aspects, viz., phytochemistry, pharmacology, etc., of Nagkesara drug [1, 7–19].