Rasna

RASNA (PLUCHEA LANCEOLATA)

Parts Used: Whole Herb

Common Names: Roshna / Baisurai / Rasna / Yukta / Rasnapat

Rasa (Taste): Tikta (Bitter)

Guna (Qualities): Guru (Heavy)

Veerya (Potency): Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post Digestion Effect): Katu (Pungent)

Karma (Pharmacological Activity): Kaphavata Shamaka (Reduces Vitiated Kapha and Vata dosha), Amapachani (Digestive, Relieves Ama Dosha)

Bioactive Compounds: Flavonoids - Quercetin and Isorhamnetin, Triterpene, Triterpenoids, Sterols, Flavonoids, and Lactones, Moretenol, Moretenol Acetate, Sterol Glycosides, Taraxasterol

Family: Asteraceae

HABITAT

It is a perennial herb, occurring in Indo-Gangetic plains, 30-60 cm tall. Plant is found in Punjab, upper Gangetic plains, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Plant grows in open waste lands over sandy-saline lands in low rainfall areas.

INTRODUCTION

Rasna is also as “Yukta” in Ayurveda. It is a versatile aromatic plant with great medicinal value. It is an undershrub widely distributed in greater parts of India and the adjoining Asian countries. Rasna herb is well-known in indigenous systems of medicine for its therapeutic benefits in arthritis and joint pain. In ancient times, it was externally used as a poultice at the site of inflammation, pain and swelling.

BENEFITS

Arthritis and Bones: It has anti-arthritic properties and is used in several preparations and composition for rheumatoid arthritis and related issues. It particularly works to improve joint pain and reduce inflammation (swelling). Rasna has analgesic and antipyretic properties. It helps in rejuvenating the fluids around the joints. It promotes the strength and flexibility of the joints.

Ayurvedic View: According to Ayurveda, bones and joints are considered a site of Vata in the body. Pain in the joints is mainly due to an imbalanced Vata. Rasna helps to reduce joint pain due to its Vata balancing property.

Relieves Cough and Cold: It promotes regular respiratory function by maintaining a clear flow of vital force all over the body especially to the joints.

Ayurvedic View: Rasna is an effective herb in managing the cough and cold due to its Ushna (hot) nature and Kapha balancing property. It helps to release mucus from the respiratory passages and clears them due to its Kapha balancing property. This gives relief in the symptoms of cough.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Rasna is beneficial in managing arthritis as it reduces inflammation and joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The alcoholic extract of Pluchea lanceolate leaves inhibited the humoral antibody response and cell mediated immune responses. Flow cytometric studies also revealed the down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and this is suggestive of its possible therapeutic usefulness in treatment of the inflammatory states of the body and autoimmune disorders like arthritis.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Jahangir T, Khan TH, Prasad L, Sultana S, Pluchea lanceolate attenuates cadmium chloride induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice, J. Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 57, 2005, 1199-1204
Arya D, Patni V, Comparative analysis of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and in vivo and in vitro anti-arthritic activity in methanolic extract of Pluchea lanceolata (Oliver and Hiern), Int. J. Biological and Pharmaceutical Res., 4, 2013, 676-680.
Srivastava V, Verma N, Tandon JS, Srimal RC, Antiinflammatory activity of Pluchea lanceolata. Isolation of an active principle, International Journal of Crude Drug. Research, 28, 1990, 135-137.
Prasad DN, Bhattacharya SK, Das PK, Anti-inflammatory activity of alcoholic extract of Pluchea lanceolata in albino rats, Ind. J. Medical Res., 54, 1966, 582-590.
Jahangir T, Sultana S, Modulatory effects of shape Pluchea lanceolata against chemically induced oxidative damage, hyperproliferation and two stage renal carcinogenesis in Wister rats, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 291, 2006, 175-185.