Punarnava
Common Name:
Spreading hogweed (Eng.)
Sanskrit Name:
Punarnava- Means that becomes a new every year or
That makes the body new one when taken in routine because of its rejuvenating and bllood purofying and enhancing action
Shothaghni- Means that alleviates all edematous conditions
Lt. Name:
Boerhavia diffusa- Nyctaginaceae
Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Madhura (Sweet); Tikta (Bitter); Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough)
Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Warm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Madhura (Sweet)
Chemical Constituents:
Punarnava contains b-Sitosterol, a-2-sitosterol, palmitic acid, ester of b-sitosterol, tetracosanoic, hexacosonoic, stearic, arachidic acid, urosilic acid, Hentriacontane, b-Ecdysone, triacontanol etc.
Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):
Pacifies all the three Doshas i.e. it is useful in management of diseases involving either of the Doshas or all the three ones.
Actions according to Ayurveda:
Shophaghna- Useful in edematous conditions as it corrects the functioning of the kidneys and healthy kidneys can expell the unnecessary fluid out of the body very effectively
Vaya sthapana- Restores the vigor and vitality of youth delaying the signs of old age
Swedopaga- Aids in fomentation of the body
Anuvasanopaga- Useful in Anuvasana type (Enema with oil as main constituent) of therapeutic enema
Deepani- Ignites the digestive fire
Pandughni- Useful in management of Anemia of any etiology
Bradhan pranut- Prevents hernial protrusion
Hruda rogahari- Useful in management of all heart diseases
Kasahara- Valued highly in management of all types of cough
Urah kshata shool pranut- Alleviate the chest pain caused by the trauma over the chest
Medicinal value:
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A study was designed to investigate the antihyperlipidemic activity of an aqueous extract of Boerhavia diffusa leaves in alloxan diabetic rats.Oral administration of B. diffusa leaf extract (BLEt) at 200 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks resulted in significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides.
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Antifungal activity (reduction in colony diameter) of various extracts (pt. ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and aqueous) of aerial and root parts of Boerhavia diffusa (Nictaginaceae) was screened against dermatophytic fungi Microsporum fulvum. The colony diameter of the target mycelial colony decreased with increasing supplementation of the phytoextract, showing the presence of significant amount of some antifungal phytochemical moiety.
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Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu 608 002, India investigate d the effects of daily oral administration of aqueous solution of Boerhaavia diffusa L. leaf extract (BLEt) (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks on blood glucose concentration and hepatic enzymes in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. A significant decrease in blood glucose and significant increase in plasma insulin levels were observed in normal and diabetic rats treated with BLEt. Treatment with BLEt resulted in a significant reduction of glycosylated haemoglobin and an increase in total haemoglobin level. The activities of the hepatic enzymes such as hexokinase was significantly increased and glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were significantly decreased by the administration of BLEt in normal and diabetic rats. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed in the same groups, in which there was a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in rats treated with BLEt. A comparison was made between the action of BLEt and antidiabetic drug—glibenclamide (600 μg/kg). The effect of BLEt was more prominent when compared to glibenclamide.
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An aqueous extract (2 ml/kg) of roots of diameter 1–3 cm, collected in the month of May (Summer), exhibited marked protection of a majority of serum parameters, i.e. GOT, GPT, ACP and ALP, but not GLDH and bilirubin, thereby suggesting the proper size and time of collection of B. diffusa L. roots for the most desirable results.
Useful part:
Roots; Seeds; Whole plant
Doses:
Powder- 2-4 gm; Juice of fresh roots- 5-10 ml
Important combinations with Punarnava:
Punarnavashtaka; Punarnavasava; Punarnavadi mandura
Some special notes about Punarnava:
When freshly procured Punarnava in paste form when taken for fifteen days/ two monthes/ six monthes or one year, even an old person turns out to youthful with vigor and vitality.
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