ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572
Author(s): Unadkat Kinjal Parsotam*, Jani Dilip Khemji, Chaudhari Ditiksha Ashokbhai
Shatavari is a well reputed drug in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Its effectiveness of therapy is well known globally. In Ayurveda shatavari is known as the Queen of the herbs and is the first choice of herb for female health. It is a climbing plant which grows in tropical regions of India and is widely distributed across the world and its distribution ranges from tropical Africa, Java, Australia, Sri Lanka, Southern parts of China and India, but it is mainly cultivated in India. It is mentioned in the various classical texts for the treatment of diseases such as Shotha (inflammation), Gulma (abdominal pain), Atisara (diarrhoea) etc and also is Rasayana (rejuvenative), Balya (gives strength), Shukrakaraka (increases sperm), Stanyakara (increases breast milk) etc. It is described in Bruhatrayi including Charaka Samhita (2000 BC), Sushruta Samhita (600 BC) and Ashtang Hradaya (600 AD), Dhanvantari Nighantu (8th -10th AD), Raj Nighantu (14th AD), Kaiyadeva Nighantu (15th AD), Bhavprakasha Nighantu (16th AD) etc. Therapeutically proven activities of Shatavari are – antinatal, anti-abortifacient, anticancer, anti-diarrheal, anti-depressant, anti-epileptic, antioxidant, anti-tussive, antiulcer, cardio-protective, diuretic, hepato-protective, immune-stimulant, neurodegenerative etc. It indicates the importance of the drug that it was screened for various activities. Here a review on the therapeutically proven pharmacological actions of Shatavari correlation with Ayurvedic classics documented thousands of years ago. It has been done to explore the importance of the drug mentioned in the classics. It reflects the correlation of the same activity noted by two different aspects.
