3. 1. Punarnava
(Boerhavia diffusa)
Meaning: Punar + Nava (Punar means
regaining/restoring and nava stands for newer,
rejuvenates body)
Syn: Hog Weed
Regional name: Hindi: Punarnava, Sanskrit:
Gothaghni, Marathi: Khaparkhuti
Source: fresh as well dried whole plant
“Boerhavia diffusa”
Family: Nyctaginaceae
GS: Throughout India & Srilanka during rainy
season
6. Traditional Uses
Ayurveda describes 5 prime properties of the herb Punarnava mentioned below…
Paandughni: Paandu in Ayurveda is anemia. Punarnava is useful in treating different
types of anemia wherein the hemoglobin level is low.
Shofaghna: Shofa stands for inflammatory conditions. The herb was prescribed by
ancient Ayurvedic practitioners in various edematous conditions. This function of the
herb is believed to be due to its specific action on kidneys. The herb rejuvenates the
kidney that expels extra fluids from the body.
Vayasthaapan: Vaya in Ayurveda means the age of the person. Sthaapana stands for
reestablishing. The herb of Punarnava has powerful rejuvenating and revitalizing
properties that make it as an anti-aging ingredient used in Ayurvedic formulas.
Hridya: Hriday is the heart. Hridya means cardiac tonic to be used in various
ailments including heart stroke, high cholesterol and lipid levels. In contemporary
medical system also, cardiac patients are generally prescribed with diuretics and
anti hypertensive medicines. Punarnava has multiple benefits in patient with cardiac
diseases.
Anoovasanopag: The herb of Punarnava can be used in Anoovasana basti,
therapeutic enema. The oil extracted from the herb is used as main constituents in
such enema used to treat several health diseases.
7. 2. Shankhpushpi
Meaning: the plant with flowers shaped like a conch
Regional name: Marathi: Shankhvel
Source: whole aerial parts of “Convolvulus
microphylla”
Family: Convolvulaceae
GS: wildly grows in India
Constituents: Alkaloid: Shankhpushpine
Flavonoids: Kaempferol, Kaempferol-3-glucoside
Coumarin: 6-methoxy-7-hydroxyl coumarin
Fatty alcohol, beta sitosterol, sugars, 3,4-dihyroxy
cinnamic acid
8. Uses: Brain tonic, antihypertensive, tranquillizer
Fresh juice: nervine tonic in epilepsy, insanity,
nervous debility, memory enhancer (increased
protein supply to hippocampus)
On the basis of flower colours, three types of
Shankhpushpi are described in reference
literatures viz. Red, white and blue. According to
reference literatures, white flowered
Shankhpushpi is most powerful and genuine.
Market formulation: Shankhpushpi syrup
(Baidynath), Mentat (Himalaya)
20. Choloroquine resistant Plasmodium
falciparum, P. vivax and cerebreal malaria
Artemether: developed by CDRI lucknow
Artemisic acid: Antibacterial, Cyto-toxic,
Anti-inflammatort
Artemisinin: Anti-cancer as well
21. Artemisinin contains endoperoxide group and
this reacts with the iron in haem, giving rise to
highly reactive free radicals. Parasites death is
believed to result from the reaction of these
free radicals with parasite molecules such as
proteins and nucleic acids.
Artemisinin does not react with the iron in
haemoglobin so that uninfected red cells are
unaffected.
Artemether, oil soluble, IM injection
Artesunate & Artelinate, water soluble, IV
injection
22. 9. Chirata
Syn: Indian Ginseng, Indian balmony
Source: entire herb of “Swertia chirata”
Family: Gentianaceae
GS: India, Nepal, Bhutan
Constituents: Chiritinm Gentiopicrin,
Amarogentin (phenol carboxylic acid ester of
sweroside), Ophelic acid, Gentianine and
Gentiocrucine
23. Ingredient of Mahasudarshan Churna
Chronic fever, bitter tonic, digestant
Liver tonic promoting bile flow
Constipation and dyspepsia
Market formulation: Sage chirata (Sage), Safi
(Hamdard)
24. 10. Ashoka
Syn: Ashok
Source: dried bark of “Saraca indica”
Family: Leguminosae
GS: Overall India, Burma, Ceylon
Constituents: 6% tannins, Anthocyanin dvt-
leucopelargonidin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside,
Leucopelargonidin, Leucoanidin, Waxy subs. Long
chain alkanes, esters, alcohols and n-octacosanol
Steroidal- 24-methylcholest-5-en-3-beta-ol, (ZZE)-
24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3-beta-ol, 24-
ethylcholest-5-en-3-beta-ol and Beta sitosterol
25. Use: To stimulate the uterus making the contractions
more frequent and more prolonged without producing
tonic concentrations as in case of Ergot alkaloids
Phenolic glycoside: oxytocic activity in vitro and in
vivo uterus and isolated myometrial strips and
fallopian tube
Bark reported to have stimulating effect on the
endometrium and ovarian tissue and is used in the
treatment of menorrhagia due to uterine fibroids,
Leucorrhoea, internal bleeding, Haemorrhagic
dysentery
Reported, Alc extract is antimicrobial and Aq extract
anticancer
Market formulation: Ashokarishta (Baidynath), Pmensa
(Lupin)