DATABASE ON MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN AYURVEDA
Volume 8
Kailash Chandra B.G. Chaudhari
B.P.Dhar
G.V.R.Joseph
A.K.Mangal
Rajesh Dabur
Tushar K. Mandal
Arun M. Gurav
M.B. Yelne S.P. Singh
Assisted by
R. Koditkar, A. Hole, V. Shinde, M.V. Sathe and G. Deshmukh
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha
(Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
Government of India
Jawaharlal Nehru Bhartiya Chikitsa Avam Homoeopathy
Anusandhan Bhavan, 61-65 Institutional Area, Opp. "D" Block,
Janakpuri, New Delhi - 110058.
2007
Publisher
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha
(Deptt. of AYUSH, Min. of Health & Family Welfare),
Govt. of India
Jawaharlal Nehru Bhartiya Chikitsa Avam Homoeopathy
Anusandhan Bhavan, 61-65 Institutional Area, Opp. "D" Block,
Janakpuri, New Delhi - 110058.
E mail: ccras@vsnl.net.in
© Central Council of Research in
Ayurveda & Siddha, New Delhi
2007
Cover Photo: Kanchanara- Bauhinia variegata Linn.
Cover page designed by
Dr. Rajesh Dabur, RRI(Ay.), JNAMPGH, Pune
Printer
ii
FOREWARD
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of health care and medicine, has well organized
materica medica in which plants form a dominant part. The green wave has affected
the whole world very strongly. The closeness to the nature, the sensitivity to the
cleanness of environment, the renaissance of folk medicine, the popularity of
alternative healing methods inspire the use of more and more plant based
preparations. The number of organizations and institutions which are involved in
some aspects of research into medicinal and aromatic plants range from inter-
governmental agencies to international, national and local organizations.
Keeping in view present scenario, there was an urgent need to compile the series of
books containing all the combined information of Ayurveda texts as well as the
modern literature on the plants. This eighth volume of series presents an account of 30
species of important plants widely used in Ayurvedic formulations. A few of them are
less known and under exploited, i.e. Annona squamosa and Leucas cephalotes. This
book is a comprehensive volume detailing the characteristics of 30 important plant
species. The documentation is exhaustive including nomenclature, botanical
description, distribution, Ayurvedic properties, actions and uses, pharmacogonosy,
chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological properties, therapeutic
evaluations, cultivation and tissue culture. In other words this volume contains oldest
medical science (Ayurveda) of world as well as modern science. The information on
these plants has been obtained from various sources. The various books along with the
latest journals related to the plant sciences were the main source to collect the
information on the plants described in this book. All the references are up to date and
provided in the text to make this volume friendlier to the readers.
Collection and compilation of enormous data presented in this volume was a very
painstaking job. The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS),
Department of AYUSH, has rightly started compilation of "Database on Medicinal
Plants used in Ayurveda" and 7 volumes covering 220 thmedicinal plants have
already been published. I take great pleasure in presenting 8 volume of this series
brought out by CCRAS, under the excellent guidance of Dr. G.S. Lavekar, Director of
the Council. This volume comprises 30 important medicinal plants. The guidance,
encouragement and interest imparted by Dr. G.S. Lavekar and the efforts put in the
team of scientists lead by Sh. K. Chandra, Assistant Director Incharge of the Regional
Research Institute (Ay.) at Pune deserve all appreciation.
I am confident that this volume, a prestigious expertise publication of the Department
of AYUSH, would prove to be of immense utility to all who are interested in
medicinal plants.
New Delhi
January, 2007.
(Anita Das)
Secretary
Department of AYUSH
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India
iii
iv
PREFACE
Traditional systems of medicine continue to be widely practiced. Global
estimates indicate that 80 per cent of population cannot afford the products of the
western pharmaceutical industry and have to rely upon the use of traditional
indigenous medicines mainly derived from plants. An inventory of 20,000 medicinal
plants species has been compiled for the entire world.
According to survey report by WHO, about 25 per cent of prescribed human
medicines are derived from plants and 80 per cent people still depend on traditional
system of medicines.
The herbal wealth of India and the knowledge of their medicinal properties
have a long tradition, as referred in Rigveda and other ancient literature. The
topography of India in the tropical belt with its varied climatic zones made it a vast
storehouse of medicinal plants.
In recent years, a few developments in the drug industry have brought Indian
medicinal wealth at their ecosystem into world focus. In particular, the clinical reports
on many native plants like Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Chirayata (Swertia chirayita), Tagar (Valeriana jatamansi), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Vasa
(Adhatoda zeylanica), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) and many more have
supported their claim of containing specific pharmacological activity for which they
are used in Indian System of Medicines.
I am delighted to present the 8th Volume of "Data Base on Medicinal Plants
used in Ayurveda & Siddha", which has been compiled comprehensively in time
bound manner. This volume incorporates an account of 30 plant species used in
Ayurveda. Like earlier volumes, it presents a brief and concise account of parts used,
classical and vernacular names, botanical characters, distribution in India as well as
abroad, important actions and uses, Ayurvedic properties, pharmacognostic
characters, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, toxicology, therapeutic
evaluation, trade and commerce, substitutes and adulterants, formulations and
preparations, propagation and cultivation etc. along with photographs of the plants
and parts used. Efforts have been made to collect up to date references from all
available sources which has been incorporated in the texts and the same are also
incorporated at the end of each species under the subhead References, Bibliography.
I am confident that this volume will also be welcomed by the researchers of
various disciplines like Botany, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy,
Agriculture, Forestry apart from Ayurveda and other traditional systems of Medicine
as well as Modern Medicine. It would be useful for the persons/agencies interested in
Medicinal Plants and Ayurveda including Pharmaceutical Industries.
v
I appreciate Sh. K. Chandra, Assistant Director, Incharge, Regional Research
Institute (Ay.), Pune, Sh. B.G. Chaudhari, Research Officer (Pharmacognosy),Dr.
Rajesh Dabur, Research Officer (Biochemistry), Dr. T.K. Mandal, Research Officer
(Ayurveda), Dr. A.M. Gurav, Research Officer (Botany), Sh. M.B. Yelne Research
Officer (Pharmacognosy) and Dr. S.P. Singh, ex. Assiatant Research Officer
(Chemistry) for their dedicated efforts and hard work in compiling the manuscript. I
am also thankful to Dr.(Mrs.) B.P.Dhar, Research Officer (Pharmacognosy), Dr.
G.V.R.Joseph, Research Officer (Botany), Dr. A.K.Mangal Research Officer
(Pharmacognosy), for their sincere efforts in bringing this volume. Thanks are also
due to Smt. Rohini Koditkar, Shri Ganesh Deshmukh and Smt. Vinaya Shinde, Senior
Research Fellows and Smt. Archana Hole (Herbarium Assistant) and Shri M.V. Sathe
(Laboratory Technician) for their sincere assistance and devotion to work, which has
made it possible to collect and compile the data in shortest possible time. I also thank
to Sh. P.M. Kharawalikar, Artist and Sh. C.M. Erande Field Technician RRI (Ay.),
Pune for extending co-operation in preparation of photographs. A word of
appreciation is due to Sh. Nilesh V. Shirke, Computer Operator cum Typist for his
painstaking work of loading the data with minimum errors and to all the Technical
and Administrative staff of the Institute for extending co-operation directly or
indirectly.
I am thankful to the Director, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune for
providing Library facilities for referencing and collection of data.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Smt. Anita Das, Secretary and
Shri Shiv Basant, Joint Secretary, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Govt. of India, for their keen interest, encouragement and
appreciation of the work.
Place : New Delhi (G.S. Lavekar)
Dated : 01-10-07 Chief Editor
vi
Forward
Preface
Contents of Vol. 7
Contents of Vol. 6
Contents of Vol. 5
Contents of Vol. 4
Contents of Vol. 3
Contents of Vol. 2
Contents of Vol. 1
Explanatory Introduction
Abbreviations
CONTENTS
Volume 8
Plants covered
iii
v
ix
xi
xiii
xv
xvii
xix
xxi
xxiii
xxiv
Ahiphena
Bala
Brihati
Dronapushpi
Gorakshganja
Hamsapadi
Hapusha
Hingu
Jayapala
Kanchanara
Kankola Karchura
Kasha
Katphala
Papaver somniferum Linn.
Sida cordifolia Linn. Solanum anguivi Lam.
Leucas cephalotes Spreng.
Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss. ex Schult.
Adiantum lunulatum Burm. f. Juniperus communis Linn. Ferula assa-foetida Linn.
Croton tiglium Linn.
Bauhinia variegata Linn. Piper cubeba Linn. f.
Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc.
Saccharum spontaneum Linn.
Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham ex D. Don
vii
1
42 59 74
85
96
105 125
141
156 170 183
199
207
Kola
Masha
Mashaparni
Murva
Padmaka Pushkar Sarshapa
Shali
Shatahva
Sitaphala
Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.
Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper Teramnus labialis Spreng.
Marsdenia tenacissima Wight. & Arn.
Prunus cerasoides D.Don
Inula racemosa Hook. f.
Brassica campestris Linn.
Oryza sativa Linn.
Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Flem. Annona squamosa Linn.
219
241 261
272
283 294 309
325
355 377
Surana Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicols. 399
Sweta musli
Sweta jiraka
Tagara Vansha
Vatsanabha
Index I Index II
Index III
Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker.
Cuminum cyminum Linn.
Valeriana jatamansi Jones.
Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd.
Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf. ex Holmes.
Classical Names
Synonyms
Vernacular Names
409
419 445 464
475
487 489
496
viii
CONTENTS
Ankola
Ashwagol
Ativisha
Chandrashura
Devadaru
Erandakarkati
Indravaruni
Jatamansi
Jayanti
Karkatashringi
Katuka
Kebuka