Botanical standardization of the <i>Jatamansi</i>, their substitute and adulterant species

Abstract

<i>Jatamansi</i>, botanically equated to <i>Nardostachys jatamansi</i>, is an important drug of Ayurveda and used in different traditional systems of medicine. Rhizome of some other species such as <i>Valeriana wallichi </i>and <i>Selinum vaginatum</i>, being rich in essential oil contents, are also sold in herbal drug market by the same vernacular name. Present study is aimed to authenticate identity and validity all these species on the basis of taxonomical characters.