Boerhavia diffusa or Punarnava herbology

Boerhavia diffusa description according to ayurveda

1. Botanical name : Boerhavia diffusa Family : Nytaginaceae English name : Hog weed Sanskrit name: Punarnava Telugu name : Erra galijeru

2. Introduction The Genus was named Boerhavia in honor of Hermann Boerhaave , a famous Dutch physician of the 18th century. The fresh leaves and roots are eaten as vegetables in curries and soups by the tribals . Roots and seeds are added to cereals, pancakes, and other food as nutrient source. Seeds are also served as bird feed. The leaves are given to cattle as fodder so as to increase milk yield

3. In Atharva Veda, Punarnava is described as a herb that rejuvenates the entire body. Morphologically, it is observed that the plant dries up during the summer season and regenerates again during the rainy season. Punarnava is a renowned medicinal plant used in therapeutics by endemic and tribal people since ages.

4. Habitat It is found throughout India as weed up to an altitude of 2,000 ft. It grows abundantly in waste places, fields, and marshy places during rainy season.

5. Morphology It is a perennial diffuse herb with stout root stock and many procumbent branches Leaves: Simple, opposite or subopposite , short petiole. broadly unequal pairs, green above and reddish beneath, ovate or suborbicular shape, acute-obtuse apex, round or subcordate at the base. Flowers: Pink, red, or purple, small, short stalked, in irregular clusters of axillary or terminal corymbs Fruits: Ovoid or subellipsoid , rounded above, slightly cuneate below, five-ribbed with glandular, viscid hair. easily detachable, single seeded, indehiscent with a thin pericarp .

6. Chemical composition Whole plant contains a large number of active compounds such as flavonoids , alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids , lipids, lignins , carbohydrates, proteins, and glycoproteins . Root mainly contains alkaloids punarnavine , punernavoside , boeravinone A-F, boerhavin ,

7. Parts used Root and panchag (whole plant)

8. Dosage Juice: 5 to 10 ml Decoction: 50 to 100 ml

9. Pharmacological actions anti-inflammatory Laxative Carminative anemia, diuretic, cardiotonic haemopoietic ,

10. expectorant, aphrodisiac, adjuvant to sudation therapy, eye tonic antipyretic, rejuvinator , antitoxin.

11. Pharmacological Actions immunomodulator , antioxidant, diuretic, hepatoprotective , anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, antiestrogenic , anticonvulsant, adoptogenic , antimetastatic , antifertility , radioprotective , insecticidal, anthelmintic , Chemopreventive ,

12. Indications ascites , dyspepsia, anemia jaundice, hepatotoxicity , diabetes calculus

13. constipation, heart diseases, Cough asthma, menorrhagia , dysuria alcoholism, Piles skin diseases fever, scorpion sting, snake bite.

14. Therapeutic Uses External Use 1. conjunctivitis: In conjunctivitis, application of root paste of Punarnava with honey reduces inflammation and redness.

15. Internal Use anemia: Daily intake of Punarnava leaf juice edema: Daily intake of decoction or paste of Punarnava root mixed with Shunthi paste

16. 3. calculus: Daily use of decoction of Punarnava Gokshura ( tribulus terrestris and Pashabheda increases urine output, breaks stones, and expels our gravels 4. jaundice, hepatitis decoction or powder. skin disease, and other liver diseases

17. heart diseases: In heart diseases associated with pedal edema, breathlessness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decoction of Punarnava root powder with and Shunthi should be given

18. Toxicity/ adverse effects Because of its emetic property, vomiting may be induced if taken in large doses (Sharma et al 2000).

19. Formulations Punarnavasava , Punarnavaristam Punarnavamandoor , Kumaryasava , Punarnava guggulu ,

20. Key characters for identification A perennial herb with many procumbent branches Leaves: Simple, opposite, unequal pairs, ovate or suborbicular shape Flowers: Small pink or purple, occurs in axillary or terminal corymbs Fruits: Ovoid or subellipsoid , five ribbed, with viscid hairs