IMPORTANCE OF QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS IN ENSURING QUALITY OF HERBAL MEDICINES W.R.T. INDIAN KUDZU (PUERARIA TUBEROSA DC.)

Pueraria tuberosa DC. known as Indian Kudzu is one of the most important drugs that have been used in the system of Ayurveda from
time immemorial. The references in the Sanskrit texts depict its use as a vegetable in the past which is also seen even today. Today the
tender root tubers are being sold as vegetables in some part of India. Other than nutritional effect, the plant tuber is known to produce
the aphrodisiac effect for which it is mainly regarded in the system of Ayurvedic medicine. Thus it is very necessary to have the
qualitative analysis to ensure better effect either in the form of nutrition through food or medicine.