HPTLC Finger Print Profile of Dried Fruit of Physalis alkekengi Linn.

Dried fruit of Physalis alkekengi Linn. (Fam. Solanaceae) is called as Kaknaj in the Unani system of medicine and used as diuretic, antiseptic, corrective of liver and sedative. Standardization of this drug is the key factor in regulating the therapeutic efficacy. Organoleptic parameters are not enough in establishing the standards of herbal drugs. Instrumental analysis of herbal drugs, which gives a more concrete picture regarding the qualitative and quantitative aspects of bioactive molecules, is widely accepted in the quality assessment of herbal drugs. However, such work related to traditional herbal medicines is lacking or in infantile stage. In the present study, morphological and physicochemical parameters and HPTLC finger print studies of Physalis alkekengi have been carried out and the results provide referential information for standardization.