Study on Drying Characteristics of Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)

Shankhpushpi is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘the plant with flowers shaped like a conch’. The Botanical name of Shankhpushpi is “Convolvulus pluricaulis choisy”. Shankhapushpi is used to treat various disorders related to nervous weakness, problems like insomnia, mental as well as physical fatigue, loss of memory etc. Primarily shankhapushpi is used as a brain tonic. Shankhapushpi is one of the best and prominent natural medicine which helps in improving memory. This investigation was undertaken to assets the drying characteristics of shankhpushpi. There are four treatments as 30, 40, 50 ⁰c and shed drying (3032⁰c) taken as control. The moisture content of shankhpushpi was found as 66%. The effect of drying on the colour and chemical constituents like ‘pushpine’ in terms of sugar content was examined. From this study it was found that drying of shankhpushpi at 30⁰c for 12 hours have maintained the colour and chemical constituents.