ESRA SAÇICI, ERDEM YEŞİLADA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia - 2018;56(1):37-61
Although marshmallow flowers are used more frequently than leaves and roots, only Althaeae folium and Althaeae radix monographs exist in European Pharmacopoeia. The aim of study was to set standards for marshmallow flowers which will be used for its quality assessment. Althaeae flos monograph was prepared based on the main principles described in European Pharmacopoeia for herbal drugs. After setting the limits, the specifications of 33 marshmallow samples purchased from herbal markets were studied to determine their suitability for the proposed monograph. Results have shown that all the commercial samples were obtained not from Althaea, but Alcea species, a close gender, based on the flowers size. Since main characteristics of both flowers were determined to be identical, this would not rise a problem. However, residual parts of insects or snails were found in 28 samples and thus they were evaluated unacceptable to be used in phytotherapy.