Quality control and phytochemical validation of Saussurea lappa (Costus/Qust)

Introduction: Saussurea lappa, traditionally known as Qust (Costus), is a perennial effective root, globally distributed across Himalayan region and has been extensively used for treating a variety of ailments for its antiulcer, anticonvulsant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antiarthritic, and antiviral activities. Materials and Methods: Organoleptic, physicochemical, phytochemical analysis, and chromatography of S. lappa are done as per the WHO guidelines for standardization of the herbal drug. Results: This research resulted the physiochemical parameters such as moisture content, ash value as 7.46 ± 0.63, 6.33 ± 0.44 (total ash value), 2.33 ± 0.33 (acid insoluble), and 4 ± 0.28 (water soluble), respectively. Water extract contains the highest value (17.68%) of successive extraction. The extract shows four spots of different color in thin-layer chromatography. Discussion and Conclusion: The results of preliminary phytochemistry profile of S. lappa (Qust) are actually useful in validating and determining the purity of the drug for the identification and documentation, which may be useful to pharmaceutical industries for the quality control of the commercial samples and also these characters will aid future investigators in their pharmacological analysis of this drug to develop them as a medicine.