Abstract

AN IN DEPTH REVIEW OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN. WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NIGHANTU

Sumita Ghosh* and Avik Pal

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Abstract

Herbal medicines are widely used since time immemorial indicating that herbs are a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. India has an ancient heritage of traditional herbal medicine. The medicinal plants are used for treatment of various diseases because of their safety and effectiveness. Achyranthes aspera has been used as traditional medicine from ancient times. It grows in abundance and has flowers at the top, deflexed with spinous bracteoles and pointed perianth which make it difficult to handle. The whole plant is used for making various medicines. Various parts of the plant contain important chemicals likeroots contain Ecdysone, ecdysterone, inokosterone, oleanolic acid and glycoside, seeds contain sapnins A & B, fruits contain Saponin C & D, Oleanolic acid and various important alkaloids like Achyranthine and Betaine. It has various proven medicinal effects like Diuretic, Spasmolytic, Hypoglycaemic, Anti-microbial, Vasodilator activity and so on. Its main properties are presence of Tikta and Katu rasa, Laghu, Ruksha and Tikshna guna, Katu vipak and Ushna virya. It has kapha-vata shamak, Dipana, Pachana, Rochana, Krimighna, Lekhana, Sothhara, Vedana sthapan, Mutrala and various other properties. It has been mentioned in various Samhitas and Nighantus like- Charak Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Bhavaprakash, Madanpal Nighantu, Saligram Nighantu etc for its various medicinal uses.

Keywords: Anti-microbial, Hypoglycaemic, Samhitas, Nighantus.