IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MEDICINALLY ACTIVE INGREDIENT OF ENDANGERED PLANT ARNICA MONTANA

Arnica Montana extract, a natural limuloid contains about 59 ingredients out of which sesquiterpene lactones helenalin, and dihydrohelenalin, are considered significant medicinally active ingredients. Arnica Montana is commonly used in folk medicine, CAM, and Homeopathic drug as neurotropic, cardiotropic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant, Anti tumors, to control diabetes, etc. The plant is often misidentified with similar plants. Arnica Montana is now a protected endangered plant species. The commercially available crude ethanol extract and serial dilutions of Arnica Montana is studied for identification and characterization using Scanning Electron Microscope and FTIR. Keywords: Arnica Montana, Lactones, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Vibrational Spectroscopy, Serial Dilution.