Different sources of RASANA

1. DR. PUNESHWAR KESHARI
M.D. (Ayu) Dravyaguna Vigyan

2. 1. INTRODUCTION
2. CAUSES OF CONTROVERSY
3. RASNA IN SAMHITA
4. WHAT IS RASNA
5. HOW RASNA BECAME CONTROVERSIAL
6. RESEARCH CORNER
7. DISCUSSION
8. CONCLUSION
9. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3. • Medicinal plants constitute an effective source of Ayurveda
and other traditional system of medicine as well as modern
medicine. In India about 80 percent of the rural population
depends on herbal medicines in primary health care level.
• A large percentage of plants used in Ayurvedic practices
and herbal medicines are subjected to controversy.
• Controversial drugs or Sandigdha Dravyas is term used for
medicinal plants having controversial botanical sources due
to polynomial nomenclature system of Sanskrit, non
availability of plants and parallel evolved knowledge.
• Controversy is creating problem for uniformity in
standardization and reliability of Ayurvedic products.

4. Causes of Controversy –
 Mistake done during copying of Manuscripts- For Example: Taalavriksha of
Dhanwantari Nigahntu has become Latavriksha in Nighantu sesha.
 Geographical variation- Berginia ligualata is source of Pashanbhed in North
India while Aerva lanata is considered as Pashanbheda in South India.
 Single synonym given for multiple plants- eg. Amrita is used for Tinospora
cordifolia(willd.)Miers ex Hook & Thoms and Terminalia chebula Retz.
 Non-availabilty – for example Sankhpushpi dealt in samhita is not available and
for this Clitoria ternatea Linn. Is used in south India while Convulvulus
microphyllus Sieb. ex Spreng are being used in north India.
 Poor understanding of Sanskrit word in different context-for example Pippala
denotes bodhivriksha when used in male gender and the same in female gender
denotes long pepper.

5.  Parallel evolving knowledge system- for example Centella
asiatica (L) urban is used in north for Brahmi( Bacopa monnieri
(L.) Pennel.
 Vernacular names- Matala in Tamil refers to Punica granatum
Linn. Where as in Kannada it pertains to Citrus medica.
 Non Ayurvedic/ Medical literature also creates controversy-
eg. In poetry Kamala , Utpala, Kumuda, Kalhara all are, at a
times, referred as same but botanically they are different
species.
 Polynomial nomenclature

6. CHARAKA SAMHITA-
 Rasna is mentioned in Anuwasanopag Mahakashaya .
 Elaparni one of the synonyms of Rasana mentioned in
Vamanopag Dravyas in Vimana Sthana-8/143, it is only one
synonym found in samhita kaal.
 Rasna is also mentioned in Vatvyadhi chikitsa as Rasana taila
along with other Gandha Dravyas. ( Ch.chi.28/165)
 It is also mentioned in different Yoga along with Tikta Dravyas .
For example;
1. in Hikkaswasa Chikitsa Adhyaya along with Patha, Murva,
Sarala and Devdaru like Tikta Dravyas.(Ch. Chi. 17/106)

7. 2. Rasnadi Niruha Vasti- Rasana along with Guduchi,
Daruharidra, Saptaparna, Nimba, Bhunimba, Katuki,
Patha etc. Tikta Dravyas.(Ch.Si.3/61)
3. Panchatikta Vasti- Rasana along with Patola, Nimba,
Bhunimba,Saptachhada; indicated in Prameha,
Abhisyanda, Kushtha. (Ch. Si. 8/8)
 Rasna is mentioned as Agraya in Vatahara, similarly
Rasna along Agaru is Agraya for Sheetaprashamana.
 Mukta is mentioned in Vyasthapana Mahakashaya which
is considered as Rasna.

8.  Rasna is mentioned in ARKADI Gana, maximum drugs of
this group are herb or shrubs, and it is also mentioned as
Sleshmasamshamana.
 It is mentioned with Vacha, Ativisha etc. Dravyas in
Moodhgarbha Chikitsa for Vedanasamana.(Su.Chi.15/21)

9.  Acharaya has described Rasna as the component of niruha vasti.
(A.H.Su.15/3)
 Acharaya has described Rasna as one of the component for the
preparation of of upnaaha sweda. He further describes that this
Upnaaha sweda is only useful for the vataj diseases.
(A.H.Su.17/2)
 Rasna is mixed with other drugs to prepare Sneha. This sneha
when used as anuwasan vasti treats the fever(jwara).
(A.H.Chi.1/123)
 Acharaya has described that Rasna when mixed with other drugs
like Vidanga, Nagara, Pipali etc.and treated with grhita it cures
vataj kaasa, swaasa and hiccough. (A.H.Chi.2/12)

10. On the basis of descriptions found in Samhitas we
can conclude Rasana as follows-
 Rasna is Herb or shrub
 It has tikta rasa.
 It has special odour in rhizome.
 It has ushna veerya.
 Doshkarma- Vatashleshmahara, specially Vatahara
 Karma- Vamanopaga, Anuwasanaopag, Kushthaghna,
Krimighna, etc.

11.  Rasna is mentioned in Amar Kosh in two contest-
1. As synonym of Elaparni
2. As synonym of Nakuli
 Chandrata- ‘/f:Gff;'/lEf” - denotes Rasna as Gandha Dravya.
 Chakrapanidutta mentioned Rasanadwayum, Nakulidwayum-
Both Rasna and Nakuli as same; Rasna as Gandha Nakuli.
 Dalhana has mentioned Rasna as Surabhi, Surasa, and
Gandhanakuli as Sugandhamoola Rasna.
 Raja Nighantu has mentioned 3 types of Rasna-
1. Moola Rasna
2. Patra Rasna
3. Trina Rasna
 Shiva Das Sen- Nakuli and Sarpagandha as Rasna.

12. 1. Rasna “रस्यतेशब्द्यते” कपmवातजित्ईत्याददगुणयुक्ता!
य्वारस्यतेआस्वायतेशोथाददरोगाभि: ईित! रसआस्वादने!
(N.A.)
Shape similar to tongue or perceptible by tongue, savoury,
palatable, shape of tongue . One that increases Rasaadi
dhatus
2. Elaparni
Its leaves resemble leaves of Ela.( Elettaria cardamomum); i.e.
lanceolate in shape
3. Suvaha - It will bear good pharmacological properties or
which spreads easily.

13. 4.Shreyasi
It effectively combats vata disorders.
5. Rasya
(It has pleasant taste)
6. Surasa
One which increases rasa dhatu or has good pharmacological
properties

14. 7. Yuktarasa
It is full of juice; succulent
8. Sugandha It has very good smell, fragrant.
9. Nakuli
Mongoose consume these plants
It will not allow the poisoning effects
10. Gandhanakuli It s another type of Nakuli. It
may cause agony to snake like mongoose ( Ba.Di)

15. 11.Atirasa -Succulent or juicy in nature
12. Gandhamula -Aromatic root
13. Rasa - Which nourishes rasa dhatu or juicy in nature
14. Yukta - Indicated and useful in diseases
15. Yuktarasa -Juice of which is used in varied number of
diseases

16. 1. Pleuchea lanceolata C.B.Clarke. (Asteraceae)- UP, Bihar, and
Northwest of India
2. Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd (Scitaminaceae)- South India
3. Vanda tessellata Loud and Loud/ Vanda roxburghii R. Br.
(Orchidaceae)- Bengal.
4.Viscum album (Loranthaceae)- Punjab
5.Withania coagulens (Stocks) Dunal (Solanaceae)- Sindha
6.Aristolochia indica L.(Aristolochiaceae)-
7.Inula racemosa Hook.f. (Asteraceae)-
8.Rauwolfia serpentine (L.) Benth. ex Kurz (Apocynaceae),
9. Lochnera rosea (Apocynaceae)-
10. Enicostemma littorale Blume (E. littorale) (Gentianaceae)
11. Dodonaea viscosa ( Sapindaceae)- Andhra Pradesh
12. Tylophora asthmatica ( Asclepiadaceae)- Mumbai

20. Name of
Plant
Vernacula
r Name
Macroscop
ic
characteri
stics
Geograph
ical
distributi
on
Used
Parts
Rasa Veery
a
Dosh
karma
Karma
Pluchea
lanceolat
a
Raisan,
Rasna (
UP)
Rasna (
Gu)
Undershru
b, leaves
tongue
shaped,
petiole
small and
twisted so
looks like
ela patra
Bihar,
Upper
Bengal
Leaves Tikta Ushna Kapha-
Vatashama
ka
Shothahara,
Sheetahara,
Vednasthapa
ka
Alpinia
galanga
Kolingen
(Gujrat)
Khulanja
n (Arabic)
Herb,
leaves-
Lanceolate
Througho
ut India,
often
cultivate
Rhizo
me
Katu Ushna Kapha-
Vatashama
ka
Lekhana,
kasahara
Sheeta-
prashamana
Vanda
tessellata
Rasna
(Bengal)
Vanda (
Hindi)
Epiphytic
plant,
Hanging
root
Bengal,
ChhotaNa
gpur,
Bihar
Root,
leaves
Vatashama
ka
Viscum
album
Kismis
Kavali (
Mumbai)
Epiphytic
plant,
oblong
leaves
Temper
ate
Himalay
as,
Kashmir
Dry
fruits
Digitalis
and ergot
like action

21. Name of
Plant
Vernacula
r Name
Macroscop
ic
characteris
tics
Geograph
ical
distributi
on
Used
Parts
Rasa Veerya Dosh
karma
Karma
Withania
coagulens
Kakanaj (
Mumbai)
Panir ja
Phota (
Sindh)
Rigid,
grey,
tomentose
undershru
b, leaves-
lanceolate
-oblong
Sindh,
Punjab,Ba
luchistan,
Afganista
n
Seed
s,
Fruit
s,
Leav
es
Tikta Ushna Kapha-
Vatashama
ka
Aristoloch
ia indica
Isharmool
(Hindi)
Perennial
climber
shrub,
leaves –
broad to
narrow.
Througho
ut India,
Kankeshv
ar,Mumba
i
Root,
leave
s
Tikta,
Katu
Ushna Kapha-
Vatashama
ka
Vishaghna,
Vranasodhak
, Sothahara,
Vedanasham
aka
Inula
raemosa
Pohakar
mool (
Hindi)
Rigid 1-5
feet height
plant,leave
s oblong,
root
aromatic
Temperat
e
Himalayas
- Kashmir
Root Tikta,
Katu
Ushna Kapha-
Vatashama
ka
Jantughna,
Putihara,
Sothahara,
Vedanasthap
aka
Rauwolfi
a
serpenti
ne
Dhawalb
aruwa (
Hindi)
Glabrous
shrub,
leaves -
ovate
Shady
forest in
India
Root Tikta Ushn
a
Nidrajanan
a

22. Name of
Plant
Vernacula
r Name
Macroscop
ic
characteri
stics
Geograph
ical
distributi
on
Used
Parts
Rasa Veery
a
Dosh
karma
Karma
Lochner
a rosea
Sadasuh
agan,
Barmasi
( Guj.)
Herb,
leaves-
deep
green,
polished,
obovate
Commo
n
garden
plant all
over
India
Whole
plant
Kash
aya,
Tikt
a
Ushn
a
Kapha-
Vatasham
aka
Vishaghan,
Jantughana
,
Raktabhars
hamaka
Enicoste
mma
littorale
Blume
Mmejav (
Gujrati)
Glabrous
perennial
herb
Througho
ut India-
Sea cost.
Leaves,
flowers
Antidiabetic,
Anti-
inflammator
y
Dodonae
a
viscosa
Virala (
Tamil)
Large
shrub or
small tree,
spiral
leaves
Tropical
and
subtropic
al region
Stem,
Root
bark,
Leaves
Antibacterial
, Anti-ulcer
Tylophor
a
asthmatic
a
Arkapatri Climber,
Leaves
resembles
like Arka
leaves Vamaka,
Kaphanissar
aka

23. Antinociceptive and cytotoxic activities of an epiphytic
medicinal orchid: Vanda tessellata Roxb.
M Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, M Masudur Rahman1*, Mohammed Riaz Hasan
Chowdhury, M Josim Uddin, Mohammed Abu Sayeed1 and M Aslam Hossain
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014, 14:464
 Conclusions: The leaf extract has potential antinociceptive
activity with minimum cytotoxicity. The present study supports
the use of V. tessellata in different inflammatory disorders.

24.  Asim Kumar Ghosh, Manasi Banerjee, Nirmal
Kumar Bhattacharyya1
 Chronicles of Young Scientists 2011;2:139-43
 Conclusion: A. galanga has anti-inflammatory
properties and probably acts by blocking histaminic
and serotonin pathways. It may be an effective
alternative to NSAIDs and corticosteroid in
inflammatory disorders

25. Fitoterapia. 2012 Dec;83(8):1371-85.
PoojaSrivastava , KarunaShanker

26.  Dr. NIVEDITHA SHETTY
 Dissertation submitted to the RGUHS, Banglore
 CONCLUSION-
1. Both the sources taken up for study, Alpinia calcarata Rosc. &
Pluchea lanceolata C.B.Clarke fulfil the etymological and
pharmacological properties explained in classics to a profound
extent.
2. Both the drugs have almost similar anti-inflammatory activity.
3. Alpinia calcarata, one of the south Indian source of Rasna is as
efficient as Pluchea lanceolata in exhibiting anti-inflammatory
activity and Alpinia calcarata as source plant of classical Rasna is
justified .

27.  Controversy about authentic botanical source of medicinal plants
dealt in classical Ayurveda texts lead a cause of substitution and create
a problem for standardization of Ayurvedic practices and herbal
products.
 The botanical identity of Rasna is still a controversial one. This
controversy exists in various angles, language, availability etc. A
number of different plants are equated with Rasna by different
workers.
 According to the description found in Samhita, Rasna should be a
herb or shrub which has aroma and the leaves should be resemble like
Ela, having Tikta Rasa, Ushna Veerya and Kaphavatashamaka
property.

28.  The drugs which are used as Rasna at different places are mostly
herb or shrubs with Tikta Rasa, Ushna Veerya and Kapha-
Vatashamaka karma.
 But Tylophora asthmatica, Aristolochia indica are climbers and
Viscum album , Vanda tessellata are epiphytic plants, Dodonaea
viscosa is a large shrub to small tree and Alpinia galanga, Inula
recemosa, Tylophora indica has only aroma.
 The synonyms used for Rasna such as sugandhamoola (root is
fragrant), ela parni (leaves resembles those of ela) etc. have
certain connotations appropriate to Alpinia galanga Linn. than
Pleuchea lanceolata or Vanda tessellata.

29.  The Vaidyas of greater part of Northern India consider
Pleuchea lanceolata as the genuine source of Rasna.
 Whole plant mainly, leaf is used as rasna in the case of
Pleuchea lanceolata C.B.Clarke.
 The sun dried rhizomes of Alpinia sp. are the useful
part. The aerial and climbing roots, stem and leaves of
Vanda sp. are cut and dried and sold in the drug market
of U.P., M.P., Bihar and Bengal.

30.  Sharma and Sharma (1977) reported that the water soluble
fraction of the alcoholic extract of Pleuchea lanceolata is
significantly effective in inflammatory conditions., but less
effective than Alpinia galanga and more active than Vanda
tessellata, Tylophora asthmatica and Aristolochia indica.
 According to API Pluchea lanceolata is considered as
genuine source of Rasna.

31.  The 3 varieties of Rasna mentioned in Raj Nighantu
are 3 different botanical species using as following in
Bengal-
a) Moola Rasna- Rauwolfia serpentina
b) Patra Rasna- Lochnera rosea
c) Trina Rasna- Vanda roxburghii
 But Bapalal Vaidya considered Trina Rasna as
Sadabahar ( Lochnera rosea) and Nayee or Naahi (
Enicostemma littorale)

32.  K.C. Chunekar in his hindi commentary of
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu has also mentioned Kaali
Rasna ( Heliotropium strigosum Willd.) and Safed
Rasna ( Lepidogathis trinervis Nees) on the basis of
thesis work of Dr. Suryashekhar Mishra.

33.  Controversy of drugs mainly due to polynomial system of
nomenclature in classical texts.
 Controversy about authentic botanical source of Rasna dealt in
classical Ayurveda texts should be resolved by integrated research
and those sources should be validated which have more potency for
described pharmacological activities.
 Pluchea lanceolata and Alpinia galanga are the nearest source of
Rasna dealt in classics but Pluchea lanceolata is considered the
authentic source by API and also supported by various scholars of
recent time like Bapalal Vaidya and others.

34. 1. Astanga Hridya.
2. Charak Samhita
3. Chunekar KC: Bhavaprakasa Nighantu of
Bhavamisra.Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi. 2004
4. Kokate CK, Purohit AP and Gokhele SB:Pharmacognosy.
Chapter-6, NiraliPrakashan, 2007; 39thEd: 97-98
5. Sharma P.V.: Dravya Guna Vigyan vol.5. Chaukhambha
Bharati Academy, Varanasi. 2014
6. 6. 9. Sethiya Neeraj K, Mishra Shrihari H: Controversial
Drugs of Ayurveda,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259464924
7. Sushruta Samhita
8. Vaidya Bapalal : Some Controversial Drugs in Indian
Medicine. Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi. 2014