Comparative phytochemical analysis of Shorea robusta Gaertn (oleoresin) WSR to its seasonal collection.

The oleoresin of the Shorea robusta Gaertn is called as Shala niryasa, Kala, Sarja rasa which has the chemical constituents such as nor-triterpene, dammarenolic acid, asiatic acid, dipterocarpol, triterpenic acid, tannic acid and phenolic content and possesses antibacterial, analgesic and wound healing effect.The medicinal property of the plant is highly influenced by the the season in which it is cultivated and collected. The classical texts of Ayurveda provide guidelines on the time of collection of raw drugs. Hence following these indications the oleoresin was collected in two seasons as per reference of Acharya Charaka and Susrutha in Hemantha rutu (Dec-Jan) and Vasantha rutu (April-May) respectively. Analytical studies revealed that the oleoresin collected in Vasantha rutu contained more tannin, resin, volatile matter, phenolic content, which are the active ingredients of the drug as compared to the oleoresin collected in Hemantha rutu .This is a preclinical work and further clinical study has to be done to prove efficacy of the seasonally collected samples.