ABSTRACT
Extinct herbs have been retained in compound formulations; substitute herbs have been permitted without comparing their chemical constituents and biological activity. Daughter tubers of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle constitutes the main drug, Atis root. Mother tubers are considered inferior. According to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, two varieties are mentioned in classical texts: Dhava of Charak: Madhura-tvaka, Madhuravalkala, Vaka-vriksha. Three varieties are mentioned in Ayurvedic texts, shvetapushpi (white-flowered), nilapushpi (blue-flowered) and pitapushpi (yellow-flowered). In practice, no distinction is made between white and blue flowered varieties which are equated with E. alba. National Academy of Ayurveda equated Phyla nodiflora with Siddha drug Poduthalai. In all classical compounds of Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Sanskrit names with updated pharmaceutical names in brackets should be used.
