Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics

Purnendu Panda ¹, Banamali Das ¹, D. S. Sahu ¹, S. K. Meher ¹, B. K. Das ¹, G. C. Nanda ¹

Affiliations
1 National Research Institute of Ayurvedic Drug Development, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, IN

Abstract

Traditional medicines were originally used with vast knowledge about the pharmacological activity of numerous plants. Vitex negundo (Nirgundi) is one of the very useful plant in Indian System of medicine. It is a large aromatic shrub distributed throughout India. This species is globally distributed in Indo-Malaysia, cultivated in America, Europe, Asia and West Indies. The plant has also been extensively used in traditional medicine. It has been used for the different diseases like cephalgia, otalgia, arthritis, colic, rheumatism, skin diseases, urinary disorders, wounds, ulcers, Bronchitis, malaria fever, epilepsy, haemorrhoids, dysmenorrhoea as one of the effective medicine. In modern medicine it has also reported to posses potent pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antibiotic, Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, oxidative stress, anti-androgen, snake venom neutralization and anti-allergic activities. This review gives a bird's eye view mainly on the pharmacognistic characteristics, Traditional uses, and pharmacological actions of Vitex negundo Linn.

Keywords

Vitex negundo Linn., Anti-Inflammatory, Ayurveda , Pharmacological Evidence.

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Purnendu Panda ¹, Banamali Das ¹, D. S. Sahu ¹, S. K. Meher ¹, G. C. Bhuyna ¹, B. K. Das ¹, M. M. Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 National Research Institute of Ayurvedic Drug Development, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, IN

Abstract

Medicated oil/ghee is one of the important dosage form widely described in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. Four types of Snehas (Fatty preparation) are described in Ayurvedic literature. These are ghrita, taila, vasa and majja. Among these taila(medicated oil) and ghrita (medicated ghee) are more popular in therapeutic uses. Taila murchhana is the first step of taila prepartation. This process has been adopted for enhancing the potency of oil and to remove the bad odour and amadosa. Researches show that murchana process decreases the acid value and increases saponification value. Reduced acid value indicates less percentage of free fatty acids and increased saponification value indicates higher content of low molecular weight fatty acids. Medicated oils containing low molecular fatty acids are absorbed fast. Fat/Water soluble active principles of drugs are extracted into medicated oil in this method. Medicated Taila are having more therapeutic potency and shelf life than crude Taila. Formulations prepared from the Taila enhance life, complexion, strength and anabolism of body. The water soluble as well as fat soluble active principles can be transformed into Taila media and this addition of properties of material made the Taila potent and effective.

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Purnendu Panda ¹, Banamali Das ¹, D. S. Sahu ¹, S. K. Meher ¹, B. K. Das ¹, M. M. Rao ¹, G. D. Naga Lakshmi ²

Affiliations
1 National Research Institute of Ayurvedic Drug Development, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, IN
2 Dr. NRS Govt. Ayurvedic College, Vijayawada, IN

Abstract

Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. More than 70% of India's 1.1 billion populations still use these drugs. Calotropis procera Linn. is one of the herb mentioned in all ancient scripts of Ayurveda. It is known as Arka in Ayurveda. Botanical texts of Ayurveda like Dhanwantari Nighantu, Madana pala Nighantu and Bhavaprakash have mentioned details about the plant. The various parts of the plant are being used in various traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of variety of ailments like in worms infestation, strangury and ulcer etc. The ischolar_main bark has been used for cutaneous disease, intestinal worm, cough, ascites and anasarca. The ischolar_main powered is useful in bronchitis, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, dysentery, piles, boils, scrotal enlargement, filariasis, and cancer. Considerable efforts have been made by researchers to verify its utility through scientific pharmacological screenings. Pharmacological studies have shown that Calotropis procera Linn. possesses a wide range of biological activities such as anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anthelmintic, anti-candidial, wound healing, anti-convulsant, anti-tumor, anti-asthmatic, hepatoprotective and cytotoxic. This reviews presents pharmacognostical, pharmacological and uses of Calotropis procera Linn. in Ayurveda.

Keywords

Calotropis procera (Arka), Ayurveda, Pharmacological Action.

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