Manjishtha
Common Name:
Indian madder (Eng.)
Sanskrit Name:
Manjishtha- Means ‘bright red’ attesting to its red roots which have an affinity for the blood and the red pigment can be seen in the urine
Vikasa- Meaning “blooming” or “expanding”
Yojanavalli- Means it spreads to miles
Lt. Name:
Rubia cordifolia- Rubiaceae
Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter); Kashaya (Astringent); Madhura (Sweet)
Guna (Characteristics)- Guru (Heavy); Ruksha (Rough)
Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Warm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)
Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Pacifies Kapha and Pitta means it is useful in management of diseases resulting from aggravation of Kapha/ Pitta or both.
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Principal Constituents:
Purpurin, Munjistin, Xanthopurpurin or Purpuroxanthin and Pseudopurpurin. |
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Actions according to Ayurveda:
Swarakrit- Improves voice
Varnya- Improves complexion
Jwarahara- Destroys fever
Mutrajanana- Diuretic
Ashmaribhedana- Lithogogue
Swedajanana- Diaphoretic
Vishaghna- Destroys toxins
Lekhaniya- Scraps out the unwanted deposits of the body including fatty deposits of obesity
Rakta shodhaka- Blood purifier
Kandughna- Eliminates itching
Raktapittahara- Valued in bleeding tendencies
Shonita sthapana- Haemostatic
Vedana sthapana- Analgesic
Purisha sangrahaniya- Stool forming
Sandhaniya- Bone mender
Kushtaghna- Alleviates skin diseases
Medicinal value:
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The hepatoprotective effects of rubiadin, a major constituent isolated from Rubia cordifolia Linn., were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in rats. Rubiadin at a dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered orally once daily for 14 days. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) due to carbon tetrachloride treatment were dose dependently restored towards normalization. Meanwhile, the decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase were also restored towards normalization. In addition, rubiadin also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde formation and depletion of reduced glutathione content in the liver of CCl4 intoxicated rats in a dose dependent manner. Silymarin used as standard reference also exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity on post treatment against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. The results of this study strongly indicate that rubiadin has a potent hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats.
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Rubia cordifolia is clinically used for the purification of blood by the physicians of the Indian System of Medicine. For the first time, the effect of the partially purified fraction of this whole plant has been studied on rabbit platelets. It inhibits the platelet aggregation induced by PAF (platelet activating factor) but not thrombin. It also inhibits the binding of 3H-PAF to the platelets in the dose-dependent manner. Thus it appears that R. cordifolia inhibits action of PAF at its receptor level either by it's blocking or by desensitization.
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Manjishtha is good for all inflammatory conditions of the blood and the female reproductive system, its obstruction-dissolving action extending to the liver and kidneys. It dissolves stones, helps destroy tumors, and cleanses and regulates liver, spleen and kidney functions.
Useful part:
Roots
Doses:
Powder- 2-4 gm; Decoction- 50-100 ml
Some useful combinations of Manjishtha:
Maha manjishthadi kwatha; Manjishthadi arka
Special notes on Manjishtha:
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Cakradatta recommended it as an application to the brown spots of pityriasis vesicolor.
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Sushruta recommended decoction of Manjishtha and Chandana in Manjishtha meha (A metabolic disorder in which person passes brownish red urine).
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