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Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine Research Article 4 min read

Medicinal Plants in Rasayana Drugs, their Active Ingredients and Reported Biological Activities: an Overview

Thamizhselvam N* and Swamy GK*
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2578-4986  10.23880/jonam-16000227  Received: January 02, 2020  Published: January 30, 2020
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Keywords
Rasayana Therapy Medicinal Plants Biological Activities Active Compounds
Abstract

Rasayana Therapy is one of the important branches of Ayurveda Medicine stream, deals with preservation and promotion of health with youthness. Rasayana therapy is holistic one comprising of rejuvenation, anti-ageing, immuno modulatory, neuro protective and revitalizing the complete metabolism. The present article intends to brief about the various medicinal plants used in the Rasayana therapy, their active ingredients and the scientific studies carried out on them with reference to their biological activities. Even though the modern studies documented the biological properties of the individual plants or their extracts, the finding of suitable model system for understanding the core scientific concepts of Rasayana therapy on modern aspects is still not much explored.

Introduction

Ayurveda is one of the major indigenous medicine systems of India that is followed thousands of years. The core concept of Ayurveda is not only curing the disease but keep the mankind in healthier way both in body and mind. Rasayana therapy is one of the eight major divisions of Ayurvedic science. ‘Rasa’ means essence of nutrition, ‘ayana’ means body tissues elements, and Rasayana therapy means the treatment methods that enrich the body tissue elements through nutrition in effective way [1, 2]. According to Ayurveda the Rasayana therapy improves longevity, memory, intelligence, health, youth, complexion, voice, motor and sensory strength [3]. Rasayana drugs possess multifaceted action on the human physiology and pacify all afflictions. The present study documents the major medicinal plants that are used in the Rasayana Drugs, their active compounds and their biological activities.

Classification

Rasayana are classified in Ayurveda on the basis of benefit, method of use and type of materials used, and all these things are interconnected and the holistic approach is adopted during the course of treatment [4] (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Classification of Rasayana Therapy [4].
Click to enlarge
Figure 1: Classification of Rasayana Therapy [4].

Medicinal Plants used in Rasayana Therapy

The usage of single plants and formulations has been well reported in the Rasayana therapy [5, 6]. The doses, dose schedule, combination of the drugs are determined based on the patho physiological conditions of the subject and the environmental condition. The list of medicinal plants commonly used in Rasayana therapy with the details of its purposes has been documented in Tables 1 & 2.

S.No.Common Sanskrit name of plantsScientific name
1AshwagandhaWithania somnifera
2AmalakiEmblica officinalis
3BibhitakaTerminalia bellirica
4HaritakiTerminalia chebula
5BrahmiBacopa monnieri
6BalaSida cordifolia
7BhringrajaEclipta alba
8JyothishmatiCelastrus paniculatus
9PippaliPiper longum
10AtmaguptaMucuna prurita
11ShatavariAsparagus racemosus
12KashmariGmelina arborea
13GuduchiTinospora cordifolia
14ChitrakaPlumbago zeylanica
15VidangaEmbilica ribes
16GugguluCommiphora wightii
17HaridraCurcuma longa
18RasonaAllium sativum
19ManjishtaRubia cordifolia
20TuvarakaHydnocarpus laurifolia
21SankhapuspiConvolvulus pluricaulis

Table 1: Commonly used Medicinal Plants in Rasayana Therapy.

There are various studies that have been carried out on these plants for evaluating their biological activities and identifying their active ingredients. The details have been presented in the Table 2 [7].

Reported biological activitiesActive compounds
Withania somniferaImmuno modulator, strength promoting, adaptogenicWithaferine A, Withanocytes I-VII
Emblica officianlisJaundice, bleeding disorders, gastritis, anti-diabeticAscorbic acid, gallic acid, chebulinic acid, chebulagic acid
Terminalia bellericaPurgative, bronchitis, anti HIV, anti-malarial, anti-fungalTannin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid
Terminalia chebulaPurgativeTannin
Bacopa monnieriAnti laprotic, antipyretic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, memory enhancerBacoside A
Sida cordifoliaFilariasis and bleeding pilesEphedrine, Sitoindoside X, Vasicine Vasicinone
Eclipta alba/Eclipta prostrataHepatoprotective, dermetosis and dyspnoeaWedelolactone, dimethylwedelolactone
Celatrus paniculatusMemory enhancing, Skin affectionsLinoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids
Piper longumBioavailability enhancer, Anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti helmentic activitiesAlkaloids piperine, piperilongumine (piplartine) piperlonguminine, methyl -3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate
Mucuna prurita/Mucuna pruriensAnti Parkinsonian and aphrodisiacL-3,4 dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-dopa)
Asparagus recemosaDuodenal ulcer, immuno modulatory effectsSteroidal glycosides shatavarine I- IV, Polycyclic alkaloid 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivate racemosol
Gmelina arboreaHaemorrhagic disorders, cardiac diseases, disureaLinoleic acid
Tinospora cordifoliaImmuno modulatory, hepato protectiveSesquiterpene tinocordifolin, sesquiterpene glucoside, tinocordifolioside, arabino galactane
Plambago zeylanicaIn colic and appetizerPlumbagine, 3- chloroplumbagine, 3,3-biplumbagine
Embilica ribesContraceptive and anthelminthicEmbilin
Commiphora wightiiAnti-inflammatory, anti hyperlipidemic, cervical adenitisResin, gum, volatile oil consist of myrcene, dimyrcene, poly myrcene, Resin- Z gulggulsterone, E-guggulsterone, Z- guggulsterol, guggulsterol I-V
Curcuma longaAnti-inflammatory, antipluritis antidiabetic, anti dermetosis, antihelmentic, wound healingCurcumin (curcumin 1)
Allium sativumHypocholesterolaemicAllyl alcohol, sulphur compounds like Allicine, Allin diallyl sulphide
Rubia cordifoliaAnti tumor, blood dysenteryRubiadin (1, 3-dihydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone) Alizarin, Purpurin
Hygrocarpus laurifoliaSkin disorders, itching, non-healing wound, sinuses and abscess.Hypnocarpic acid, Chalmoorgic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid
Convolvulus pluricaulisReduce gastric ulcers, stress, control neurotoxic, levels, improves memory, analgesic property, cure hyperthyroidConvoline, convolidine, convolvine, confoline, convosine, palmitic acid, linoleic acid β sitosterol, tropane

Table 2: Medicinal Plants used in Rasayana Therapy and the details of Reported Biological Activities and Active Compounds.

Discussion

Rasayana therapy is one of the important treatment protocols of the Ayurveda and practiced by the experienced and exponent Ayurvedic physicians. In Rasayana therapy the plants are used as medicine in various forms as single drug or formulations while giving equal importance to the diet and life style. Even though, the effects of Rasayana Therapy on human subjects have been documented by the various researchers, the modes of action of Rasayana Therapy have not been scientifically explored much. The modern research has only documented the biological activity of the individual medicinal plants and their active ingredients [8, 9]. Based on these, the Rasayana therapy is interpreted in modern science like Immuno-modulatory action, Anti-ageing action, Adaptogenic action, Longevity or extended life span etc [10]. However, the research on finding of some suitable model systems is still a major challenge in the understanding of mode of action of Rasayana therapy.

Conclusion

Rasayana Therapy is one of the eight branches of Ayurvedic Science, which comprises of preventive, promotive and curative aspects for healthy and happy living with youthness. The benefits of Rasayana therapy are long life with youthness, enhanced memory and brilliance, great strength of body and sense organs and pleasing personality. Various plants and plant products are used in the Rasayana treatment along with prescribed diet and life style. Even though the active components of the plants and their biological activities have been documented individually, the holistic mechanisms of action of Rasayana treatment are still not explored in depth.

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi for his support and encouragement.

Conflict of Interest: Nil

References

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  3. Balasubramani SP, Venkatasubramanian P, Kukkupuni SK, Patwardhan B (2011) Plant-Based Rasayan Drugs from Ayurveda. Chin J Integr Med 17(2): 88-94.
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  5. Sharma PV (1992) History of Medicine in India. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy, pp: 353-356.
  6. Divya J, Krishna GGS (2017) An article on Rasayan Therapy in Ayurveda confers as Rejuvenation Therapy and Preventive Therapy. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology 3(1): 998-1000.
  7. (2003-2015) Quality Standards of Indian Medicinal Plants. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. 1-13.
  8. Venugopalan SN, Venkatasubramanian P (2017) Understanding the concepts Rasayana in Ayurveda Biology. Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine 1(2): 112.
  9. Venugopalan SN (2015) Knowledge of Pharmacogenomics in Indian Traditional Medicine- Ayurveda. J Pharmacogenomics Pharmacoproteomics 6(3): 1-5.
  10. Singh AK, Gupta AK, Manish, Singh PK (2014) Rasayana Therapy: A Magic Contribution of Ayurveda for Healthy Long Life. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy 5(1): 41-47.
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@article{thamizhselvam2020,
  title   = {Medicinal Plants in Rasayana Drugs, their Active Ingredients and Reported Biological Activities: an Overview},
  author  = {Thamizhselvam N* and Swamy GK},
  journal = {Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine},
  year    = {2020},
  volume  = {4},
  number  = {1},
  doi     = {10.23880/jonam-16000227}
}
Thamizhselvam N* and Swamy GK (2020). Medicinal Plants in Rasayana Drugs, their Active Ingredients and Reported Biological Activities: an Overview. Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.23880/jonam-16000227
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TI  - Medicinal Plants in Rasayana Drugs, their Active Ingredients and Reported Biological Activities: an Overview
AU  - Thamizhselvam N* and Swamy GK
JO  - Journal of Natural & Ayurvedic Medicine
PY  - 2020
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
DO  - 10.23880/jonam-16000227
ER  -