Natures Anti-inflammatory:

Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa Linn.)

Presented by

Dr.Awanish Pandey
P.G.Scholar
P.G.Deptt.of Dravyaguna
L.H.S.P.G.Ayurveda College & Hospital, Pilibhit,U.P.India
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INFLAMMATION
Inflammation

in Ayurveda is Shotha.

Inflammation

and edema associated with it is duly

recognized in Ayurveda as a pathological manifestation,
while modern medicine considers inflammation as a
symptom or rather as a healing response of the body in
wounds.

The

disturbances in micro-channel circulation in

inflammation are due to Shroto-dushti (clogging of
channels) by Ama (toxic waste due to deficient
metabolism). Dr.Awanish Pandey ( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)

Classification of Shotha
Classification

of shotha in Charaka Samhita

(on the basis of on etiology)

Ekanga (localised),
Ardhanga (regional) and
Sarvanga (general/dropsy)

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Classification of Shotha
1.Nija( Intrinsic factors)

Vataja
Pittaja
Kaphaja

2.Agantuja (exogenous)
Abhighata

(Trauma)
Krimi (Infection)
Visha (Toxicity)
Dahana (Burns)
Himavata(Climatic changes)
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Common pathological features of inflammation

Degenerative disorders like Diabetes
Atherosclerosis
Parkinsons syndrome
Alzheimers diseas,
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Obesity, ageing and metabolic syndrome is also
characterized by a low grade chronic inflammation.
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Punarnava:Introduction
Punarnava

is a potential and focus drug since Vedic

era.
Etymology: Punarnava = ( punar + nava ),
punar means- once again and
nava means becoming new,
Punarnava (Spreading hogweed) literally means
bring back to life or renewer.

e~ A
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Taxonomic classification

Botanical Name Boerhavia diffusa Linn.

Family

Nyctaginancae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Caryophyllales

Genus

Boerhavia

Species

diffusa
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Morphology
Boerhavia diffusa is Perennial herbaceous creeping weed.
up to one meter long or more,
having spreading branches.
The stem is prostrate, woody or succulent, cylindrical,
often purplish, hairy and thickened at its nodes.
The leaves are simple, thick, fleshy, and hairy, around
in unequal pairs, green and glabrous above and usually
white underneath; ovate, oblong, round or sub-cordate
at the base; margins smooth, wavy or undulate.
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Picture 1: Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Natural Habitat

Dr.Awanish
Pandey (( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)
Dr.Awanish Pandey
avi24hr4u@gmail.com)

Pic.2:B.Diffusa, Red variety

Pic.3: B.Diffusa,White variety

(Flowers & Fruits)

(Flowers & Fruits)

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10

Phytochemistry

Generally whole plant contains Punarnavine (Alkaloids),

B-sitosterol (Phytosterols),
Liriodendrin (lignans),
punarnavoside (Rotenoids),
Boerhavine (xanthones) and
Postassium nitrate (salts).

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11

Phytochemistry

The root containsBorhavinone A-F(AI,

BI

C2, D, E and F)
Dihydroisofurenoxanthin
Alanine
Arachidic Acid
Aspartic Acid
Borhavine
Borhavic acid
Campesterol

Glutamic Acid
Glutamine
Plamitic Acid
Proline
Hydroxy

Serine
Sitosterololeate
Sistosterol palmitate
Stearic Acid
Daucosterol
Beta Ecdysone
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Varieties of Punarnava:
In

Bhavprakash two varieties of Punarnava has

been illustrated separately1. Shweta (white) Punarnava
2. Rakta (red) Punarnava.
synonymsShweta Punarnava - shwetmoola, shothaghni and
dirghapatrika.
Rakta Punarnava - raktpushpa ,shothanghni,
ksudra varshabhu , varshketu and kathillaka.
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PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Rasa

Rasapanchaka:
Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya

Guna

Laghu, Ruksha

Virya

Ushna

Vipaka

Madhura

Karma

Anulomana, shothahar, Mootral,

Tridosh-shamaka Dr.Awanish
Pandey
( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)
Dr.Awanish
Pandey
( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)

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Classical properties of Shweta Punarnava

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15

of Rakta
Punarnava
Classical
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16
Dr.Awanish Pandey ( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)
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Classical properties of Rakta Punarnava

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Hkk0 iz0 xqP;kfn oxZDr.Awanish Pandey ( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)

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Classical properties of Shweta Punarnava

As

Bhava Prakash,Shweta punarnava has katu (pungent) and kashaya (astringent) taste
and is used in
pandu (anaemic),
shotha (inflammation),
Agni deepak,
udar roga
for elimination of vayu (flatus), visha (toxins) ,
kapha.
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Classical properties of Rakta Punarnava

Rakta Punarnava hastikta (bitter) rasa,
katu vipaka
sheetal (coolant)
Vata prakopaka
Malasangrahaka (astringents)
Beneficial in kapha pitta and rakta disorders.

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Classical Classifcation
Acharya Charaka has considered in Kasa-hara
(anti-tussive), Swedopaga, Anuvasanopaga and
Vayasthapana (rejuvenator) Mahakashaya.

Sushrut has considered in Vidarigandhadi gana

shaka varga
Ashtanga Sangrah has mentioned in
Kasa- hara and Vayasthapana mahakashaya.
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Dosha-karma
.

Punarnava is tridosh shamak, mutravirechniya

(diuretic).
(P.V.Sharma)

Sushrut

has indicated it in pittaj ashmari (renal

stones).
Milk

boiled with Punarnava root and shunthi is

used in shotha (anti-inflammatory).

Ashtanga

Sangrah has described its Rasayana

properties.
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Scientific studies

Adaptogenic
Anti-oxidant
Hepato-protective
Immunomodulater
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-diabetic
Diuretic activity
Antiviral

Antistress

activity
Anticancer activity
Radioprotective
Antifibrinolytic
Inhibit bone resorption
Anticonvulsant
Rejuvenator

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Classical uses of punarnava

Anaemic

oedema
Punarnavamandura
Punarnavastaka

(CS.Ci.16.93-96)
(VM.38.3)

Generalised

oedema
Paste of Punarnava, sunthi and mustaka should be taken in
dose of 10gm with 640ml milk. (CS.Ci.12.23)
Punarnavadyarista (CS.Ci.12.23)

The Shaak (vegetable) of Punarnava is particularly

efficacious in edema. (SS.Su.46.255)
Contd.
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Classical uses of Punarnava

Decoction

or paste of the root of Punarnava mixed with

shunthi should be taken followed by intake of milk for a
month.
(SS.Ci.23.12)
Guggulu taken with decoction of Punarnava, Devdaru
and sunthi or simply urine or decoction of Dashamula
alleviates edema.
(VM.39.8)

Punarnava, Guduchi and Guggulu pounded in equal

quantity alleviate edema, gulma, udara and disorders of
kapha.
(HS.3.25.14)

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Classical uses
Internal

abscess: Decoction of Punarnava and

varuna alleviates internal abscess. (SG.2.2.128)

Edema

during pregnancy: Decoction of

Punarnava root, Devdaru and Murva mixed with
honey should be taken. (KS.p.96)

Gulma:

Root of Punarnava cooked with rice along

with kalasaka, salt and sunthi and mixed with ghrit
removes pain of gulma immediately. (VD.8.19)

Ghrita

cooked with decoction and paste of

Punarnava alleviates edema. (CD.39.32)
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Traditional medicinal uses

Gonorrhea
Menstrual

disorders
Expectorant
Relieving abdominal pain
Given in loss of digestive
power
Dyspepsia

Anemia,
Enlargement

of spleen
Jaundice, liver, gallbladder
and kidney disorders
Corneal ulcers and night
blindness .
Restore virility in men.
People in tribal areas use it
to hasten childbirth

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Therapeutic properties
Punarnava

root is anticonvulsant, analgesic,

CNS depressant, laxative, diuretic.

Punarnava

has been started to increase serum protein level and

reduce urinary protein extraction in clinical trials in patients
suffering with nephrotic syndrome.

Punarnava

is used for local application in the form of poultice or

fomentation in edema.

Punarnava

is used for Deepan, Anulomana, agnimandya,

jalodara and constipation.

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Therapeutic properties
Antiviral

activity
Root of B.diffusa contains basal proteins which
show high virus inhibitory activity against plant
virus (TMV infection)
Anticonvulsant

activityStudy showed the crude methanolic extract of

B.diffusa and its Iriodendrin-rich fraction showed a
dose-dependent protection against PTZ (pentaylenetetrazole) induced convulsions.
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Anti-inflammatory activity
Ethanol

extract of leaves at dose of 400 mg/kg

exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effect with
30.4, 32.2, 33.9 and 32% with carragenin, serotonin,
histamine and dextran induced rat paw edema
models respectively.
Ethanol extract of stem bark also exhibited COX-I
and IC-50 value of 100ng/ml proving the drug use
in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.
In
Ayurveda, for anti-inflammatory effect,
Punarnava should use with shunthi.
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Diuretic activity
Highly

efficacious for the treatment of renal

inflammatory diseases and early onset of the liver
cirrhosis and chronic peritonitis.

The root is used to treat other renal ailments:

Calculations and cystitis,
Seminal weakness and
Blood pressure

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Rasayana Properties
Ethanolic

extract of roots of B.diffusa was evaluated

for anti-stress, adoptogenic activity in albino mice,
by swim endurance test.
The extract improved the stress tolerance and
reduced elevated WBC, blood glucose and plasma
cortisol.
The extract significantly increased DTH( delayed
hypersensitivity) response to SRBC in mice, which
was comparable with that of Levamisol, indicating
stimulatory effects on lymphocytes and accessory
cell type required
for the expression of reaction.
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Hepatoprotective acitivity
B. diffusa extract is
Anti hepatotoxic and
Hepatoprotective.
An aqueous extract of thinner roots of B. diffusa at
a dose of 2mg/kg exhibited remarkable protection
of various enzymes such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase,
serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and
bilirubin in serum against hepatic injury in rats.

The study shows a beneficial activity of the

Punarnava root for the treatment of the jaundice.

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Immunomodulation:
The

alkaloidal fraction of B.diffusa was studied for

its effect on cellular and humoral functions in mice.
The present study has shown in vivo
immunostimulatory activity of B. diffusa alkaloidal
fraction without an in vitro effect.

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Adulterants and substitutes

Market

samples of Punarnava (B.diffusa ) are

often adulterated with
Trianthema portulacastrum Linn.(Varshabhu)
Fam.-Foidaceae

Main

active principle of B.diffusa, Punarnavine is

present in Varshabhu also and therefore it bears
nearly similar therapeutic properties.

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Trianthema portulacastrum (varshabhu)

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CONCLUSION
Externally

Punarnava is used to reduce the pain and

swelling.
Punarnava is used in jaundice, general fever and
obesity.
It is used as a cardiac and renal tonic.
Punarnava is excellent anti-inflammatory and
diuretic.
Although
toxicological studies conducted on
B.diffusa demonstrated the absence of teratogenic
and mutagenic effects, but vomiting may associated
with its higher Dr.Awanish
dose. Pandey ( avi24hr4u@gmail.com)
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CONCLUSION
The

multiple benefits of B. diffusa made it true

miracle of nature.
Numerous studies have been conducted on different
parts of B. diffusa.
A detailed and systemic study is required for
-identification, cataloging and documentation of
plants,
which may provide meaningful way for the
promotion of the traditional knowledge of this
herbal medicinal plant.
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PILIBHIT TIGER RESERVE SANCTURY

THANK YOU
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