Comparative Study of Two Species of Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae s.l.)

'Bhumyamalaki'-an important herbal drug mentioned in ayurvedic literatures has been used in India since ancient times (with an annual consumption of about 3000 metric tons in India even today) against jaundice and other liver related disorders for its healing properties. Scientific studies clearly indicate Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. to be the medicinally most important species found in the mentioned herbal drug, having the highest content of hepatoprotective compounds such as Phyllanthine and Hypophyllanthine among the herbaceous species of Phyllanthus in India. But the herbal drug 'Bhumyamalaki' often includes P.fraternus (Perhaps the most similar one) and other species of Phyllanthus Herbaceous Complex other than P.amarus. In that context this work is useful to separate out the original drug species P.amarus from allied species P.fraternus and also from other similar species of Phyllanthus when adulterated even in fragmented conditions in which they occur as herbal mix. The work thus emphasized to increase the efficacy of herbal drug by reducing adulteration in a most possible cost effective manner which can be proved to be useful to drug industry and for mankind.