A great confusion between Kanchori (Tragia involucrata) and Peru-n-Kanchori Laportea interrupta plant that results adulteration

A hundred percent role of plant materials in the form of single as well as compound drugs observed in Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicines. There is no specification available for all these plants, being utilized in the preparation of the aforesaid drugs. The majority of plant still kept unidentified scientifically and are being used per their vernacular namings. The folk name and local name of the plant in many regions have great confusion to identify the plant material as crude drug form. Some of the plant shows nearly very similar morphological appearances and that also very difficult to identify on its dried form. 

Tragia involucrata plant 

Tragia involucrata - flowering twig 

The Kanchori or Sirukanchori (Tamil) is scientifically known as Tragia involucrata and belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae whereas, the Peru-n Kanchori (Tamil) is known as Laportea interrupta and belongs to the family Urticaceae. both the plant are being utilized in many preparations of Siddha and Ayurveda Medicines. The main part used for drug is dried, cleaned, and mature roots but in many cases, the whole plant of the drugs are also used. The drug is showing more difficulties in identification especially when it brought from the market in cut pieces of variable sizes or tightly bundled with mechanical packing. The major problem is the leaves detached from the drug plant when dried and based on root and stem, the above-referred drug is not given value of satisfactory identifications. 

Laportea interrupta plant

Laportea interrupta - flowering twig

But still theses plant gives very good clues to identify them using their flowering twigs which were found remaining attached with dried stem. The arrangement of flowers and the size and shape can help a lot to identify the plant on procuring and at utilization point to get authentic medicine production. It would not be to use the plants unidentified as adulterated form because both of the plant species neither have genetic nor phenotypic resemblance both belong to different families too. The actual therapeutic values may also differ.

In this way, the material may get identified before taking it for the preparation of single drugs or as compound formulations.