VACHA (ACORUS CALAMUS LINN.): A VALUABLE MEDICINAL PLANT

Last few decades have again shown a notable resurgence of interest in medicinal plants. The reason behind is the increasing awareness about the limitations of the synthetic chemotherapeutic agents. Now herbal medicines and natural products are in big demand all over the world. One of the important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat different ailments and maintain health condition is Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.). It is a herbaceous perennial belonging to family Araceae. Vacha is one of the most renowned herbs of the ancient Vedic seer as a rejuvenative for the brain and nervous system. Vacha stimulates the power of self expression and intelligence. Rhizome of Acorus calamus Linn. Contain calamediol, essential oil, tanning substances and vitamin C. These constituents are valuable in a vast range of diseases. Vacha has a special potency as a nervine tonic. It is a very vigorous brain tonic, because it shows results in a very short time. It increases the overall memory of the person and strengthens the nervous system. Vacha is prescribed to people who have amnesia. Improving the memory is a quest on which human beings have embarked centuries ago. In almost all civilizations, there have been attempts to discover the best herbs for brain enhancement with minimum side effects. Perhaps, Ayurveda wins the race in this. All the herbs Ayurveda uses for its brain tonics have minimum side effects and are quite safe for the human beings. Western science is now warming up to these herbs and is looking upon them as effective supplements for the human brain. It works well in digestive ailments like flatulence, loss of appetite, distaste, abdominal dull pain and worms. Vacha relieves the phlegm, eases cough and asthma. It is also useful to reduce fever. It is also highly useful for the treatment of epilepsy and other mental ailments

PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ARAGVADH (CASSIA FISTULA LINN): A REVIEW

Aragvadh (Cassia Fistula Linn) also known as Purging Cassia or Indian Laburnum is an important medicinal plant used in Indian system of medicine The Purging Cassia also called Cassia fistula Linn. is a moderate to medium sized deciduous tree which is very common in Indian continent. The fruit pulp contains the anthraquinone and rhein(I) in the free state as well as in the form of glycoside, responsible for significant mild purgative action. The oldest record of its medicinal use can be traced as far as 3000 years when Charak and Sushruta used Aragvadh in the treatment of different kinds of skin diseases (Kushthas). The present article gives an account of updated information on this important plant which is highly beneficial for different ailments. The review reveals about different activities of plant like purgative, diuretic, laxative, anti-asthmatic, hepato protective, anti-allergic and various other important medicinal properties. This will also provide valuable information which will assist the scientists in getting more advanced knowledge about this plant species

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF NAGAKESARA USED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA

Nagakesara though have no mentioning in Vedic literature is a widely mentioned drug in the Ayurvedic classics both in Brihattrayees and Laghutrayees. In Nighantukaala Nagakesara included in almost all Nighantus which mentions its prime importance and wide utility in therapeutics especially in disorders of GIT, skin and bleeding disorders. It has more than 20 synonyms. Modern literature mentions its considerable role in bleeding disorders and explanation regarding its morphological characters, habitat, chemical composition, characters and action. There is a need to study the position of Nagakesara in the crude drug market. It was found that there is a lot of confusion regarding the acceptance of genuine drug under the name Nagakesara. As there is scarcity and unavailability of Nagkeshara, also due to lack of awareness, instead of Nagkeshara, the Pratinidhidravya like Surpunnag, Punnag, Tamalpatra are used commonly. And gradually the use of real Nagkesara is diminished and the Ayurvedic Vaidya, teachers and students also understood the Pratinidhidravyas of it as real Nagkeshara

DEVELOPMENT OF HERB BASED PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN UTTARAKHAND STATE

Uttarakhand has been known as a place for best medicinal plants since ancient times as referred in original Ayurvedic classics i.e. Charaka Samhita (1000 BC). In recent years the pharmaceutical industries have realized its potential medicinal flora because of diversified agro climatic zone as well as less environmental pollution as 63% of the land belongs to forest. Thus the state has immense potential area to cater the demand to produce best Ayurvedic products nutraceuticals, cosmoceuticals and Agro-chemical based industrial products. Herb based Pharmaceutical industry is having great potential and opportunities for development in future because of acetate demand of the medicinal plants & their value added products are well accepted in Domestic & International Market as Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha, Homoeopathic medicines, Herbal Nutraceuticals, Herbal Cosmoceutical, Herbal Health drinks, Dietary Health Supplements, Medicinal Plants / Crude Drugs, Herbal Extracts / Concentrates, Veterinary Medicines, Health Foods. Various issues & challenges of Herbal Pharmaceutical Industries in Uttarakhand need proper attention of policy makers in favour of small industries. If, the challenges & issues related to development of Herbal sector in Uttarakhand is addressed the State could be the capital of Herbs in India

VARUN (CRATAEVA NURVALA BUCH-HAM): A CRITICAL REVIEW W.S.R. TO URINARY TRACT DISORDER

Human passion on herbal medicine dated back to times immemorial. Man is the clever living being that knows how to adapt to the changing environment of time and space. As we are all aware, the very survival of animal kingdom is depending on the plant kingdom. The plants or herbs played major part in the pharmaco therapy during the Vedic period in India. Vedic literatures indicate mainly about the utility of single herbs in management of common disease. Among all the single herbs one of the most valuable medicinal herb Varun (Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham), which is used to treat the different disease and also maintain the healthy condition of the body system. It is a small tree having much branches belonging to family Capparidaceae. Each part of   Varun tree including bark, root, leaf having certain medicinal properties. Chiefly, the bark of   Varun mainly used in the treatment of urolithiasis (Asmari bhedan), the decoction of root bark mainly used in lymph adenitis (Gandamala nasan) and immature wound healing (Apakwa vidradhi) respectively. The leaf is mainly used to reduce the fattiness of the body (Medohar). Hence this paper work is prepared for the re-evolution of the therapeutic importance of the herbal plant Varun (Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham).

KANCHNARA (BAUHINIA VARIEGATA LINN.): A CRITICAL REVIEW

Kanchnara also called Mountain Ebony in English has been used in Ayurvedic system of Medicine since a long period. Different species of Bauhinia are known and used as Kanchnara in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a moderate sized deciduous tree with greyish colored stem found in Sub Himalayan tract from the Indus eastwards and throughout the forests of India and Burma. Maharishi Charaka and Sushruta have mentioned the properties of Kovidara and Karbudara in their Samhitas (Treatise). Both flower and bark of Kanchnara are used as medicine because of the important chemical constituents present in them which are hentriacontane, octacosanol, b-sitasterol, stigmasterol, lupeol and amino acids. The drug has been described as Grahi, Krimighna, Kushtaghna, Gandamalanashaka, Vranaropaka, Mehaghna and Raktapittashamak. Considerable efforts have been made by researchers to study the chemical and biological potential of the plant. The reported pharmacological activities of Bauhinia variegata Linn. are anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial. Kanchanara is one of the major ingredient of many important formulations used in Ayurveda system of medicine such as Kanchanara Guggulu, Kanchan gutika, Gandamala kundan rasa, Gulkand Kanchanara and Kanchanaradi Kwatha,Ushirasava, Chandanasava, Vidangarishta, Kanchanara drava, Kanchnara Varuna Kwatha. So this review paper is an endeavour of the author to provide details of this medicinal plant Kanchnara about its classical references, synonyms, botanical description, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity and classical medicinal uses