Botanical quality of herbal drugs marketed as “canchalagua” in Córdoba, Argentina.

Abstract

Botanical quality of herbal drugs marketed as “canchalagua” in Córdoba, Argentina. Evaluation of morpho-anatomical characters of medicinal plants marketed as herbal drugs under the vernacular name of “canchalagua”, were done in samples acquired in stores located in the cities of Córdoba (State Capital), Alta Gracia (Santa María County), Villa General Belgrano and Santa Rosa de Calamuchita (Calamuchita County) to verify the quality of the medicinal products. The taxa found in each one of the 59 samples were identified by morpho-anatomical studies of leaves, stems, flowers and fruits using several plant histological techniques. The results showed that Schkuhria pinnata (Asteraceae), Scoparia montevidensis (Plantaginaceae) and a mix of both species are sold as pure drug of “canchalagua”. Also, Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) was identified as an adulterant of S. pinnata. A quality control showed that some samples did not meet the standards of botanical identity because they had either several species mixed or adulteration and falsifications with other species, which were not related to “canchalagua”. This study provides a set of morpho-anatomical and diagnostic characters to establish the botanical quality of the “canchalagua” herbal drug.