Pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and chromatographic fingerprinting of three probable species accepted as Kakoli – a member of Astavarga

Kakoli is an Ayurvedic drug, used for its effect on the reproductive system, especially for promoting spermatogenesis. According to Ayurvedic and other Sanskrit literature, three different plant species exist under the name of Kakoli, namely, Roscoea purpurea Sm., Roscoea capitata Sm., and Roscoea alpina Royle. The present study compares the three Roscoea species, used as Kakoli, using pharmacognostical and phytochemical, as well as other analytical studies. The result reveales that the species R. purpurea Sm. might be the most probable source of Kakoli as evidenced by the correlation obtained between literary resource-based parameters (ancient scriptures) and the experimental analysis (pharmacognostical and phytochemical findings) thereby establishing the authentic taxonomic identity of the valuable ancient medicine Kakoli.

Kakoli是一种阿育吠陀（Ayurvedic）药物，其药理作用针对生殖系统，尤其可促进精子发生（spermatogenesis）。依据阿育吠陀及其他梵文文献记载，目前共有3种不同植物物种被统称为Kakoli，分别为紫花象牙参（Roscoea purpurea Sm.）、头序象牙参（Roscoea capitata Sm.）与高山象牙参（Roscoea alpina Royle）。本研究采用生药学、植物化学及其他分析方法，对3种被用作Kakoli的象牙参属物种开展对比研究。结果表明，通过古代医籍文献参数与实验分析（生药学及植物化学研究结果）的相关性验证，紫花象牙参（R. purpurea Sm.）极有可能是Kakoli的正品基原物种，从而明确了这一珍贵古代药物Kakoli的正统分类学身份。