Abstract

KUSTH (SAUSSUREA LAPPA): VALIDATION OF CLASSICAL PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES THROUGH REVERSE PHARMACOLOGY

*Sharma Divya, Mishra H. S. and Yadav Arvind

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Abstract

Indian Herbs are known for their miraculous action potential, Kustha is one of them. Saussurea lappa C.B.Clark (Kusth) is one of the ten herbs of Lekhaniya Mahakashaya of Charak Samhita and also well described in Sushrut Samhita, Ashtang Hridayam, Chikitsa grantha and nighantus. It is the member of family Asteraceae, growing wildly in Jammu and Kashmir in the Kishanganga valley and the higher elevation of Chenab valley. The plant is perennial herb about 1 to 2 m in height, distributed in Himalaya, Kashmir eastward at an altitude between 2500 and 3000 m and also cultivated in Himanchal Pradesh, Uttranchal and Sikkim. It is most commonly used plant in Ayurveda for the management of a large number of ailments from the time of vedas. In Atharveda, Kustha is known as Takmnashan and Vishvabhesaj because it is used to pacify various ailments of body. It is used for skin ailment most commonly for leprosy that’s why plant got the name Kustha. It is traditionally used in the treatment of various ailment i.e., epilepsy, leprosy, rheumatoid arthritis, throat infection and many more. It shows antibiotic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antidiarrheal, antihyperlipidemic, larvicidal, cardiovascular and immunomodulatory properties and other biological activities. Some of the major formulations of Kustha are kusthadi churn, kusthadi kwath, kusthadi taila. Present paper deals with a comprehensive review on classical drug Kushtha starting from vedic literature to current pharmacological studies.

Keywords: Kusth, Saussurea lappa, Ayurveda, Pharmacological stydy.