IDENTIFICATION OF DARU-HARIDRA: (Coscinium fenestratum)

Daru Haridra is identified by the modern pharmacognosy as Berberis aristata DC or its allied species. Though there are more useful species of Berberis. they are said to be possessing more or less equal properties. The author explains in this paper that the use of Coscinium fenestratum in the name of Daru Haridra by the Kerala-physicians is justifiable basing on its literal meaning in Malayalam (Mara Mannal) and the similarity in the therapeutic action to that Berberis species.