OCIMUM SANCTUM LINN. Botanical name : Ocimum sanctum Family : Lamiaceae Vernacular names : Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali : Tulsi Marathi : Tulasa Tamil : Thulasi Telugu : Tulasi Malayalam : Trittavu Ocimum sanctum is a 30-75 cm high erect herb which is grown practically in every part of India. Hindus considered it a sacred plant and it is grown in every house. Macroscopy: Annual herb 30-75 cm high, much branched, stems and branches usually purplish, sub-quadrangular, sometimes woody below, clothed with soft spreading hairs.

Dr P.K. Tewari  made observation that AN  un noticed dehydration in Rajasthan especially in Jaipur even when one sits under roof at home with fan running . The sign of dehydration is dry skin , face, and arms and legs, drying of tounge are some of the common symptoms of dehydration. Skin and tounge are the most sensitive index of dehydration Please take upto 5 to 7 litres of water if you are in Rajsthan or travelling in semi arid or arid regions to survive. The air in Haridwar has natural moisture while in Rajsthan the dry air due to excessive deforestation and lcak of plants ( Total forest area under 9 percent) the moisture in air is less. The lack vegetation results in dry air which when touches the body it takes moisture from the skin and makes it further dry.

5.1   Pharmacognostical characterization of some selected medicinal plants <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

CHLOROPHYTUM TUBEROSUM (Roxb.) Family : Liliaceae Hindi : Safed musli Mundari : Kulaebo, Piri jadu, Piri tar Oraon : Oro arxa. Trade name : Safed musli This is a genus of two hundred species and twelve are native to India. These are rhizomatous herbs and roots fascicled, often thick fleshy and tuber like. It is a rhizomatous herb. Leaves are suberect lanceolate and many nerved. Inflorescence is an erect, dense-flowered racemes. Flowers are star like, white upto 2 cm across, sepals are acute, anthers are longer than filaments are green or yellow in colour, bracts are long. Seeds are black in colour with angular edges.

Botanical origin : Calotropis procera Family : Asclepiadaceae Arka, an important drug of Ayurveda is known in this country from the earliest time. It is mentioned by the earliest Hindu writers and the ancient name of the plant which occurs in the vedic literature was Arka alluding to the form of leaves, which was used in the sacrifical rites. There are two common species of Calotropis, viz. C. gigantea (Linn.) R.Br. and C. procera (Ait.) R.Br. described by the Sanskrit writers. Both the species are used as substitutes for one another and are said to have similar effects. One species is more commonly used in some parts of the country, while the other parts use the other species depending on the availability of their distribution.