Rasna Herb Information

Botanical Name : Pluchea Lanceolata

English/Common Name : Inula racemosa

Ayurvedic Name : Rasna, racemosa

Family : Composite

Part Used : Leaves, Whole Plant

PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF RASNAS

Dr. C. I. Jolly, M. A. Jadhav, Dept. of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Prin. K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Worli Seaface, Mumbai 400 018, India

Rasna is an important medicinal plant which is widely used in indigenous system of medicine (Ayurveda) for rheumatism and allied disorders, diseases of the abdomen, dyspepsia, bronchitis and inflammations. It has been observed that more than one species of plants have been referred to under the name Rasna due to large number of regional languages in India. With this in mind, the present work was undertaken to study and differentiate the following plants which are known as Rasna in India viz. Alpinia galanga, Alpinia officinarum, Inula racemosa, Pluchea lanceolata and Vanda roxburghii. Following pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies were carried out on these five plants: estimation of phytoconstituents, microscopical characteristics, mineral elemental analysis, fluorescence analysis, fluorescence quenching, HPTLC fingerprinting. Dr. C. I. Jolly

The decoction of the plant has been used traditionally in arthritis. The leaves are aperient and used as a laxative, analgesic and atypyretic.

According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.

REFERENCES

1. Purmhothaman, K. K. et al.: J. Res. Ind. Med. 7: 39 (1972).
2. Singh, N. et al.: J. Res. Ind. Med. Yoga & Homeo. ll:
3 (1976). 3. Mishra, S. H. et al.: ind. Drugs, p.141 (1979).
4. Tripathi, V. D. et al.. Ind. J. Pharm. Sci. 40: 129 (1978).
5. Kirtikar, K. M. and B. D. Basu: Indian Medicinal Plants, Bishen Singh Mahendrapal Singh, Dehradun (1985).

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