Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) – Anti Cancerous Herb:
Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) A wonderful Anti Cancerous Herb– Cancer is one of the most dreadful disease of present era, not only in India but also in worldwide. Recent study shows that 7 lac people died of cancer every year in India and mortality rate is higher in male than female. This is one of the major fatal disease of life. In Ayurveda our Acharya( Charak, Sushruta etc.) also described this disease namely arbuda( major neoplasm) and granthi ( minor neoplasm).Granthi is nothing but a pathological condition of vitiated doshas in muscular tissues, blood, fat and structure of vessels with result into gland like abnormal growth or neoplasm. It looks like bubble of water, round erect and knotted. Various Acharya mentioned different types of granthi. Ayurveda, the foremost science of medicine has lots of herbs which works well on granthi or arbuda. Tulsi, Sahadevi, Kanchanar, Varun are known to treat arbuda. Sahadevi ( Vernonia cineria) is medicinal herb of Compositae family, distributed throughout the India and can be easily seen along with roadside, open waste places, dry grassy sites. This herb is effective to treat granthi roga in tribal area of rajasthan, but no documentation has been done. Granthi roga occurs due to vitiation of Vatadi doshas, mainly Kapha prominency. Sahadevi has property to diminish the Kapha dosha. Sahadevi is used in the form of Kshara as Kshara is having tridoshasamak, lekhan and chedan property.
Detailed pharmacological study of Sahadevi and its chemical constitutes and effect on granthi & arbuda roga will be presented in full paper.
INTRODUCTION:
Cancer is one of the most dreadful disease of present era, not only in India but also in worldwide. Recent study shows that 7 lac people died of cancer every year in India and mortality rate is higher in male than female. In 2012, WHO released new statistics on Cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide i.e. GLOBOCON 2012 estimates of 28 types of Cancer in 184 countries in which there is more prevalence of Cervix and breast cancer. The death rate due to cancer is 8.2 million and 14.1 million new cases which increase to 19.3 million new cases per year by 2025.This is one of the major fatal disease of life. In Ayurveda our Acharya( Charak, Sushruta etc.) also described this disease namely arbuda( major neoplasm) and granthi ( minor neoplasm).Granthi is nothing but a pathological condition of vitiated doshas in muscular tissues, blood, fat and structure of vessels with result into gland like abnormal growth or neoplasm. It looks like bubble of water, round erect and knotted. Various Acharya mentioned different types of granthi. Arbuda as described by Acharya Sushruta “The doshas having vitiated in any part of the body and afflicting the Mamsa, producing swelling which is circular, fixed, slightly painful, big sized, broad base, growing slowly and does not suppurate”. Acharya Charak described as “complication of Vata- Rakta”. In modern science many drugs were introduced but these drugs induce toxic effects in the patients. In Ayurveda, the treatment can be summarized as Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa. Shodhana is purification process which eliminates doshas mainly by Panchkarma, whereas Shamana therapy is curative pacifies doshas. Here, in this disease, Rasayana (immune-modulators) therapy is also given as they are anti-oxidants and overcome the side-effects of anti-cancerous drugs. Ayurveda, the foremost science of medicine has lots of herbs which works well on granthi or arbuda. Tulsi, Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) , Kanchanar, Varun are known to treat arbuda.
Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) Less, family-Compositae/ Asteraceae ) is medicinal herb, It is distributed throughout India and can be easily seen along with roadside, open waste places, dry grassy sites and perennial crops during plantation. It is erect, branched and reaches a height of 12-75cm. Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) used in intermittent fever, filariasis, blisters, boils and vaginal discharges. The whole plant is used to prepare decoction for treating diarrhea, abdominal pain, colic and cough. Although in the tribal area it´s kshara preparation is famous for granthi and arbuda. It is good for cancerous malformations or anti cancerous activity.
- Synonyms – Dandotpala, Pindi, Sahadei.
- English name – Purple fleabane
RASHPANCHAK:
- Guna – Laghu, Ruksha
- Rasa – Tikta
- Virya – Ushna
- Vipaka – Katu
- Used parts – Root / Whole plant (Panchang)
Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) is medicinal herb, It is distributed throughout india and can be easily seen along with roadside, open waste places, dry grassy sites and perennial crops during plantation. It is erect, branched and reaches a height of 12-75cm. Sahadevi used in intermittent fever, filariasis, blisters, boils and vaginal discharges. The whole plant is used to prepare decoction for treating diarrhea, abdominal pain, colic and cough. Although in the tribal area it´s kshara preparation is famous for granthi and arbuda. It is good for cancerous malformations or anti cancerous activity.
This drug is effective to treat granthi roga in tribal areas but no documentation has been done. Therefore there should documented information with regard to the morphology and identification of this medicinal plant according to ayurvedic text and A.P.I. and what are the contents responsible for it.
This herb is easily available in surrounding area. Although there is adulteration fear regarding this herb. It is well known fact that market is open for every ayurvedic herb and its formulation and drug is being adulterated and as such used by both physician and pharmaceutically agencies, therefore quality assurance of medicinal plant is needful and plays important role in efficacy of ayurvedic formulation so this study will reveal the pharmacological aspect of this herb. Parts that were used include the flower (treatment of conjunctivitis), seeds (used as anthelmintic), root (dropsy), and juice (piles). The whole plant is also considered to promote perspiration in febrile condition. The plant is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and stomachic. The plant is used as anticancer, febrifuge, diaphoretic
CHEMICAL CONSTITUTE:
Some of the phytochemical compounds presentare sterols, flavonoids,sesquiterpene lactones and a terpenoid. The chief constituents are the triterpenes. The major constituents of the seed of this species contain fats and saponin.The constituents are alpha-spinasterol, arachidic,behenic acid, amyrin, beta-amyrin-acetate, beta-sitosterol,fat, linoleic-acid, lupeol, lupeol-acetate, luteolin, mono-beta-d-glucoside, myristic acid,oleic acid, palmitic-acid,pentaynene flower, vernolic-acid (seed).
USE IN CARCINOMA-PREVIOUS RESEARCHES:
- The plant was reported to possess anticancer actIvity against sarcoma 180 in mice.
- The effect of Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) Less. extract on the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells was studied in C57BL/6 mice.
- Antitumour activity is significantly seen in ethanolic and chloroform extracts of aerial parts of Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) against Dalton’s ascitic lymphoma. In vivo studies in mice showed a decrease in cancer cell count with the injection of extracts and this protective effect is also concluded by hematological parameters.
CONCLUSION:
The wide spread use of Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) Less. As chemotherapeutic, antitumour and various other disorders has lead a scientific approach towards its use as medicinal plants. Vernonia Cineria (Sahadevi ) Less. is an plant whose all parts are of medicinal value.
Guest Editor & Author of this Article:
Prof. Kamini Kaushal (H.O.D.) & Dr. Vimla Kumari (P.G. Scholar )
P.G Department of Dravyaguna, M.M.M. Govt. Ayurved College, Udaipur (Rajasthan)
Statutory warning : Self medication can be very dangerous. Always use ayurvedic medicine under the strict supervision of an ayurvedic doctor.
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