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Punarnava herb - Boerhavia diffusa
Started by: girilal at August 4 2009
Replies: 8 & Views: 19134
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Punarnava herb - Boerhavia diffusa
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By:
girilal
New Jersey USA
 
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August 4 2009
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Click picture for many more pictures
Punarnava herb grows all over India and upto 3000 feet altitude. I have seen it growing on railway tracks on the stations. Saw it growing in Jammu and also in Kanyakumari.
Plant loves intense heat and sunlight and also some moisture. Probably that's why it is useful for all disorders where in laymen terms - heat has entered in the body. All disorders that affect kidney and liver. All kidney and liver patients feel some relief.
I have seen wonders done by this herb. I myself pluck about two leaves and eat them up. Taste is slightly peppery.
Herb is very easy to identify.
http://images.google.co.in/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&um=1&sa=1&q=Boerhavia+diffusa&btnG=Search+images&aq=f&oq=&start=0
girilal
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Re:Punarnava herb - Boerhavia diffusa
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By:
garcot
Bangalore
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August 4 2009
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Hi Girilal,
Welcome back to the forum after a long layoff. I will comeback with more info on this herb very soon.
Regards
Garcot
"wisdom in your body is deeper than your deepest philosophy"(Nietszche)
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Re:Punarnava herb - Boerhavia diffusa
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By:
garcot
Bangalore
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August 5 2009
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Dear Girilal,
Sanskrit: Punarnava, Raktakanda, Shothaghni, Varshabhu
This plant is extensively used for medicinal purposes in Myanmar.
Part used and uses:
• Whole plant -- Diarrhoea; Heart disease; Carminative; Expectorant; Haemorrhoid; Cough; Inflammations; Oedema; Antidote for poisons; Gynaecological disease. Root powder -- Asthma; Unproductive cough; To allay thirst; Ascites; Intermittent fever; Gynaecological disease; Ringworm; Antidote for scorpion venom. Leaf -- Dysuria. -- KS-TMN
• Fresh or dried leaves. Used as possess very good diuretic properties and is used in cases of oedema and ascites i.e. those due to early cirrhosis and chronic peritonitis -- UHM
• Medicinal Uses: According to Ayurveda, Punarnava is bitter, cooling, astringent to bowels, useful in biliousness, blood impurities, leucorrhoea, anaemia, inflammations, heart diseases, asthma, alternatives etc. The leaves are useful in dyspepsia, tumours, spleen enlargement, abdominal pains. According to Unani system of medicine, the leaves are appetizer, alexiteric, useful in opthalmia, in joint pains. Seeds are tonic expectorant, carminative, useful in lumbago, scabies. The seeds are considered as promising blood purifier. -- www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/punanrnava.html
• Anti-inflammatory activity of various extracts of roots were studied in carrageenin induced oedema and formaldehyde- induced arthritis in albino rats. Acetone extract showed most potent anti inflammatory effect. Aqueous extract and alkaloid fractions significantly inhibited the increased serum aminotransferase activity in arthritic animals similar to hydrocortisone. Liver ATP (adenosine triphosphate), phosphohydrolase activity in arthritic animals was also increased by aqueous extract and the alkaloid. Comparative study for the anti-inflammatory effect of the various parts of the plant in carrageenin induced hindpaw oedema showed that the activity was significantly more in alcoholic extracts of roots and leaves as compared to stem and whole plant. Hypoxanthine-9-L-arabinofuranoside, the nucleoside isolated from the roots showed that like inosine and adenosine, it relaxes the isolated coronary artery of the goat contracted with potassium chloride. The action, similar to that of inosine, is thought to be a direct vasodilator effect, not involving vascular adenosine receptors. The diuretic action of the plant has been shown by various investigators, this effect being significantly higher in water insoluble alcoholic extract of roots and leaves as compared to that of stems and the whole plant.
Fresh juice of leaves is used in dropsy and chronic renal failure in a dose of 20 ml two to three times a day. Roots boiled with milk are used in a single daily dose for maintaining health. Topical use of roots has good anti-inflammatory effect. In a study of 15 patients with nephrotic syndrome treated with the decoction of the crude drug, six responded well, seven improved, while one patient deteriorated. The plant is well tolerated, though in occasional patients mild laxation is observed. -- www.garrysun.com/punarnava.html
Ethnobotany (Worldwide use)
• Healing power and curative properties:
Obesity: The herb has been used in indigenous medicine from time immemorial. Punarnava is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity as almost all anti-obesity herbal preparations contain it in one or the other form. It is beneficial in the treatment of several common ailments.
Dropsy (Edema): Punarnava increases the secretion and discharge of urine. It is effective in the treatment of dropsy, a disease marked by an excessive collection of a watery fluid in the tissues and cavities or natural hollows of the body. The fresh boiled herb should be given in the treatment of this disease. A liquid extract of the fresh or dry plant can also be given in doses of 4 to 6 gms.
Ascities: The herb is useful in the treatment of ascities, a disease characterised by accumulation of fluid inside the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen. Much more powerful effect on certain types of ascities that is caused due to the cirrhosis of the liver and chronic peritonitis.
Stomach disorders: The herb is useful in strengthening the stomach and promoting its action. It is beneficial in the treatment of several stomach disorders, particularly intestinal colic. A powder of the root is given in doses of 5 gms thrice a day. It is also useful in killing or expelling intestinal worms.
Asthma: Punarnava promotes the removal of catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. It is, therefore, beneficial in the treatment of asthma. A powder of the root can be taken in small doses three times a day.
Fevers: Punarnava is beneficial in the treatment of fevers. It brings down temperature by inducing copious perspiration.
Other diseases: The root of the plant is useful in the treatment of several diseases - particularly of the kidney and heart as well as gonorrhoea. It is also valuable in oedema, anaemia, cough, pluerisy, nervous weakness, constipation and paralysis. Skin diseases: The root of the plant is an effective remedy for several skin diseases. A paste of the root can be applied beneficially as a dressing for oedematous swellings. A hot poultice of the root can be applied with gratifying results to ulcers, abscesses and similar skin diseases.
Constituents :
• 1. Alkaloid - punarnavine C17H22NO2 (15) -- UHM
• Root alkaloids (0.05%), triacontanol hentriacontane,ß-sitosterol, ursolic acid, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethyoxy-6,8-dimethyl flavone, and an unidentified ketone (m p 86º). The roots contain the rotenoid boeravinones Al, Bl, C2 D, E and F besides the new dihydroisofurenoxanthin, borhavine and an antifibrinolytic agent, punarnavoside. Two lignans, liriodendrin and syringaresinol mono-ß-D-glucoside, have also been reported in the roots
Regards
Garcot
"wisdom in your body is deeper than your deepest philosophy"(Nietszche)
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Re:Punarnava herb - Boerhavia diffusa
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By:
girilal
New Jersey USA
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August 13 2009
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There are two almost similar plants exist side by side.
Best way to identify punarnava is that underside of the leaf is silvery or white and stem is thin and hardy. Leaves are also thin and papery and a bit rough. In the season (now is the season) tiny pink flowers too are there.
Both similar plants have almost similar medicinal characters but still identification is not really difficult if you follow these above written things. Plant is very obvious all over India expect on the mountains and grows only under the direct sun.
Ganesh Arcot has put a very appropriate character of the herb. It works like magic in heat related ailments. Taste is slightly peppery.
girilal
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