Traditional Indian Drugs Chinese: Artemisia European: Valerian

1. Traditional Drugs

2. Content
1. Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa)
2. Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus microphylla)
3. Lehsun (Allium sativum)
4. Guggul (Commiphora mukul)
5. Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata)
6. Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)
7. Valerian (Valerian officinalis)
8. Artemisia (Artemisia annua)
9. Chirata (Swertia chirata)
10.Ashoka (Saraca indica)

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

4.  Constituents:
 Phenolic glycoside: Punarnavoside (0.03-0.05%)
 Rotenoids: Boeravinones A, B, C, D, E
 Lignan dvt.: Liridodendrin, Syringaresinol-mono
beta D glucosides
 Root contains: purine Nucleoside-hypoxanthin-
9-arabinofuranoside, boeravine, ursolic acid,
beta sitosterol, insect moulding hormone, beta
ecdysterone

5.  Use: Antifibrinolytic (Punarnavoside), Anti-
inflammatory, Diuretic
 Inflammatory renal disease, nephritic
syndrome, IUD menorrhagia,
Hepatoprotective, Blood purifier
 Antihypertensive (Liridodendrin &
hypoxanthin-9-arabinofuranoside)
 Market formulation: Deepact (Lupin), Abana-
Immunol-Diabecon (Himalaya drug co.),
Punarnawadi, Punarnavarishta (Baidyanath)

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)

9. 3. Lehsun
 Syn: Garlic
 Regional Name: Marathi: Lasun
 Source: bulbs of “Allium sativum”
 Family: Liliaceae
 GS: Europe, Central Asia, US, India
 Constituents: Sulphur containing volatile oil: allyl
disulphide, alliin, allicin, allyl propyl disulphide,
diallyl disulphide
 Thioglycoside, Amino acids, flavonols, Vitamins,
mucilage

10.  Use: Antithrombotic, Hypolipidemic, Hypoglycemic
(allicin, allyl propyl disulphide), Hypotensive,
Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Antiobiotic
 Anthelmintic, Antiasthamatic, Anticholesterolemic,
Antiseptic, Diuretic, Cholagogue, Febrifuge,
Stomachic, Vasodilator
 Colon cancer, cough, flatulence, Nervous disorder,
gangrene of lung, dilated bronchi, pulmonary
phthisis
 Market formulation: Lashunadi bati (Baidynath),
Lasuna (Himalaya co.)

11. 4. Guggul
 Syn: Salai gogil
 Regional Name: Hindi: Guggal, Marathi: Mahishaksh
 Source: gum resin obtained by incision of the bark
of “Commiphora mukul”
 Family: Burseraceae
 GS: distributed throughout India
 Constituents: 32% gum, 1.45% Essential oil, Sterols
(Guggulsterol I to IV), beta sitosterol, Z-E-
guggulsterone, Sugar, Ellagic acid, Amino acids,
Myricyl alcohol, Flavonoids, Alpha camphorene

12.  Use: lowers serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL
and raises HDL
 Inhibits platelet aggregation, increase thermogenesis
through stimulation of thyroid, potentially resulting in
weight loss
 Gum: astringent, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic,
expectorant, aphrodisiac, demulcent, emmenagogue
 Resin form: lotion for indolent ulcer, gargle in teeth
disorder, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and ulcerated throat
 Market formulation: Diakof (Himalaya Co.),
Arogyavardhini gutika (Dabur)

13. 5. Kalmegh
 Syn: King of bitter,
 Source: leaves or entire aerial part of
“Andrographis paniculata”
 Family: Acanthaceae
 GS: throught India
 Constituents: Andrographolides (Liver),
Kalmeghin, Andrographiside
 Beta sitosterol glucoside, eugenol,
andrograpanin, andrographidines

14.  Use: Hepatoprotective, Jaundice
 Febrifuge, tonic, alterative, anthelmintic,
astringent,
 Debility, cholera, diabetes, swelling, itching,
piles, STDs, bronchitis, dysentery, dyspepsia,
fever, weakness
 Decoction: blood purifier and in Jaundice
 Market formulation: Sage liverex (Sage), Vasu-
liv (Vasu herbal)

15. 6. Tulsi
 Syn: Holy basil, Sacred basil
 Source: dried leaves of “Ocimum sanctum”
 Family: Labiatae
 GS: Throughout world
 Constituents: Volatile oil: 21% Eugenol, 37%
caryophyllene, bornyl acetate, methyl
eugenol, neral, alpha-beta pinene, camphene
 Ursolic acid, campesterol, cholesterol,
stigmasterol, beta sitosterol

16.  Aromatic, carminative, stimulant, flavouring
agent
 Hypoglycemic, Immunomodulator, anti stress,
analgesic, antipyretic, anti inflammatory, CNS
depressant, radio protective, antiseptic
 Used in bronchitis, cough, cold, fever, gastric
disorder
 Seeds in genitourinary disorders
 Scorpion sting and snake bite
 Market formulation: Respinova ( Lupin), Sualin
(Hamdard)

17. 7. Valerian
 Syn: Tagara
 Source: dried rhizomes, stolons and roots of
“Valeriana officinalis” collected in autumn and
dried at temp below 40 degree C
 Family: Valerianaceae
 GS: Europe
 Constituents: 0.5-1% Volatile oil, Esters- bornyl
acetate, bornyl formate, eugenyl isovalerate,
isoeugenyl isovalerate
 Alcohol, eugenol, valerenal
 Epoxy-iridoid ester: Valepotriates-main action

18.  Indication: Tenseness, Restlessness, Irritability
 Use: Sedative, Carminative, Anti spasmodic in
Hysteria

19. 8. Artemisia
 Syn: Qinghaosu, Sweet annie
 Source: entire herb of “Artemisia annua”
 Family: Asteraceae, NLT 0.8% artemisinin
 GS: Indigenous to China, Europe, America,
Australia, India (GJ, JK, Up, HP, KA)
 Constituent: Artemisinin, Deoxyartemisinin,
Artemisinic acid, Arteannuin A,B
 Amyrin, Luteolin, Beta sitosterol, Stigma sterol
 Volatile oil: Artemisia alcohol, Artemisia ketone,
Camphor

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)