Common Name:

East Indian Globe Thistle (Eng)

Sanskrit Name:

Mundi:

Shrawani:

Gorakhmundi:

Lt. Name:

Sphaeranthus indicus – Compositae

Bio energetics:

Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter); Katu (Pungent)

Guna (Characteristics) – Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Un- unctuous) 

Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot) 

Vipaka (Post digestion effect) – Katu (Pumgent) 

Chemical composition:

Methyl chavicol, a-ionone, d-cadinene, p-methoxy cinnamaldehyde as major constituents and a-terpinene,citral, geraniol, geranyl acetate, b-ionene, sphaerene, sphaeranthine as minor constituents of essential oil have been identified.

Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):

Gorakhmundi pacifies all the three Doshas i.e. it can be used in all the diseases resulting from aggravation of any of the Doshas.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Medhya: Gorakhmundi is a nervine rejuvenator herb.
  
• Ganda- Apachihara: Gorakhmundi is useful in abnormal growth in any part of the body.
  
• Apasmarnashini: Gorakhmundi is useful in management of seizures and epilepsy.
  
• Shalipadanashini: Gorakhmundi is useful in inflammation and edema of foot like in filariasis or elephantitis. 
  
• Pleehahara: Gorakhmundi is useful in enlargement of spleen.
  

Medicinal value:

• Petroleum ether extract of Gorakhmundi flowers produces prominent anxiolytic activity in mice.
  
• Pharmacological evaluation of the extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus flowers on anxiolytic activity in mice SD Ambavade, NA Mhetre, VD Tate, SL Bodhankar Department of Pharmacology, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Deemed University, Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune - 411 038, India
• The Gorakhmundi hexane extracts of flower and aerial parts showed good antibacterial activity against gram positive organisms. Flower extracts were more active than the aerial parts. Gorakhmundi also possessed strong antifungal activity against Candida and other tested fungi.
  
• Antimicrobial Activity of Sphaeranthus indicus L. V. Duraipandiyan, P. Kannan and S. Ignacimuthu Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 600 034
• A bicyclic sesquiterpene lactone has been isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the aerial part of the Indian Composite Gorakhmundi. The compound demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S. albus, Escherichia coli, Fusarium sp., Helminthosporium sp. and other microorganisms.
  
• An Antimicrobial Principle from Sphaeranthus indicus L. (Family Compositae)  S. K. Singh; K. M. Saroj; V. J. Tripathi; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, INDIA 
• A. K. Singh;R. H. Singh Department of Kaya Chikitsa, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, INDIA
• The various extracts of whole plant of Gorakhmundi at a dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight were investigated for analgesic and antipyretic activity. The petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol extracts showed significant analgesic activity in both doses (p<0.001 & p<0.01) from 1 hour onwards as compared to standard drug diclofenac sodium. The chloroform and ethanol extracts showed potential significant antipyretic activity (p<0.05) from 1 hour onwards where as aqueous extracts exhibit activity from 2 hours onward as compared to the standard drug paracetamol amongst various extracts. The significant analgesic and antipyretic activity may be due to the presence of flavonoids. Flavonoids are known to target prostaglandins, which are involved in the late phase of acute inflammation and pain perception.
  
• Analgesic and Antipyretic activity of whole parts of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.  B.K. Nanda, B.R.Behera, Dadhichi College of Pharmacy, Sundergram, Cuttack, Orissa J. Jena, B.Rath, Department of Pharmacology, V.S.S Medical College, Sambalpur, Orissa

Useful part:

Whole Plant 

Doses:

Juice: 10 – 20 ml; decoction 50- 100ml; Powder 3-6gm

Some combinations with Gorakhmundi:

Mundi Arka

Some important notes about Gorakhmundi:

• In migraine and pain in half head Gorakhmundi juice should be taken with Maricha Churna (Piper nigrum powder) at least for one week. 
  

- Gada Nigraha