Abstract

CRITICAL REVIEW ON ARKA(AN AYURVEDIC DOSAGE FORM) W.S.R. TO “BRUHAT-NIGHANTURATNAKARA” IN RELATION WITH MODERN PHARMACOLOGY

*Kinjal P. Unadkat, Dr. Neha Parmar, Ditiksha Chaudhari and Janki Lukhi

Abstract

Arka kalpana is one of the important drug dosage form in Bhaishajya kalpana which is the branch of Ayurveda. Bhaishajya kalpana deals with the different kind of dosage forms and their therapeutic utility. According to Ravan’s Arkaprakasha, Arka is the basic Kashaya kalpana. Arka is the preparation which is obtained by distillation of liquid or drug soaked in water and extracted by Arkayantra. According to modern science. Arka can be compared as aqueous extract and Arka kalpana can be compared to distillation.A lot of references were found of Arka in the management of various diseases. Bruhatnighanturatnakara has mentioned 188 number of Arka of single drugs and their indications. Therapeutically proven activities of aqueous extract of single drug are anti-inflammatory, anti depression, anti asthmatic, anti venom etc. Considerable work has been done to explore the importance of Arkakalpana and the classic for its contribution. Here we present a review on Arka of a single drug in relation with therapeutically proven action in modern pharmacology.

Keywords: Arka, Ayurveda, Kalpana, Bruhatnighanturatnakara.